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United  Brethren 
in  Christ. 
General  Conference. 
1893 


Proceediners   of  the 

Twenty-First 
General   Conference 


.3.  A3 


tihvary  of  Che  t:heolo0fcal  ^tmimry 

PRINCETON  •  NEW  JERSEY 


PRESENTED  BY 

Rufus  H.    LeFevre 
.5.  A3 


PFJOGEEDINGS 


Twenty-First^Beneral^CoBference 


UNITED  BRETHREN  IN  CHRIST. 


CONVENED  AT 


HUDSON.  INDIMNT^, 


M^Y   18-27,  18Q3. 


DAYTON,  O  : 

M.  F.  KEITER,  PUBLISHER. 
1893. 


PROCEZEDINGS 

OF  THE 

Twenty-First  General  Conference 

OF  THE 

UNITED  BRETHREN   IN  CHRIST. 


The  General  Conference  of  the  Church  of  the  United  Brethren  in 
Christ  convened  in  its  twenty-first  quadrennial  session,  in  the  United 
Brethren  Church  at  Hudson,  Indiana,  at  2:00  P.  M.,  Thursday,  May  18 
1893. 

Bishop  Milton  Wright,  D.  D.  presided. 

The  conference  joined  in  singing  "Savior  More  that  Life  to  Me," 
after  which  the  presiding  bishop  read  a  scripture  lesson  from  Acts 
twentieth  chapter,  and  Bishop  H.  T.  Barnaby,  D.  D.  led  in  prayer. 
"Rock  of  ages  "  and  "  Blest  be  the  Tie  that  Binds  "  were  then  sung. 

Rev.  C.  L.  Wood,  of  North  Michigan  Conference,  the  secretary  of 
the  last  General  Conference,  called  the  roll.  The  following  members  of 
Confer'ence  responded  to  their  names: 


H.  T.  Baruaby,  H.  Floyd,  H.  J.  Becker,  M.  Wright. 

DELEGATES  PRESENT. 

Auglaize — William  Dillou,  William  Miller. 

Arkansas  Valley — J.  H.  McNew,  C.  B.  Sherk. 

California — P.  Beck,  J.  McBride. 

Central  Illinois — A.  B.  Powell,  A.  Wormau. 

East  .Xebiaska — S.  Austin,  W.  Trace. 

East  Des  Moines — H.  H.  Williams. 

East  Ohio— J.  Noel,  J.  Excell. 

Elkhor7i--'i .  P.  Cotton. 

Erie—N.  R.  I^uce,  T.  J.  Butterfield. 

/oJLia — R.  D.  McCormack,  IS.  W.  Keru. 

Indiana — J.  Riley,  J.  M.  Johusou. 

Illinois — J.  ,Stahl. 

Kansas — E.  Atkiusou,  J.  W.  Stewart. 

Missouri — J.  T.  Allaman,  A.  W.  Geesliu. 

Michigan— B.  Hamp,  W.  S.  Titus. 

Maryland — J.  K.  Nelson. 

Tvorth  Michigan — C.  L,.  Wood,  E.  J.  Moody. 

Neosho— S.  B.  McGrew. 

North  Ohio—'i.  K.  Alwood,  C.  H.  Kiracofe,  W.  H.  Clay. 

Oregon—^.  C.  Wyatt,  A.  Bennett. 

Ontario— C.  W.  Backus,  D.  B.  Sherk. 

Pennsylvania — B.  G.  Huber,  J.  M.  Smiley. 

Hock  River — C.  Bender. 

St.  Joseph — A.  G.  Johnson,  C.  Schlappi. 


4  GENERAL  CONFERENCE. 

Scioto—].  Hoffhines.  B.  W.  Mason. 

Sandusky— D.  O.  Tussing,  J.  French.  * 

Upper  IVabashS.  .S.  Sim.s. 

H^isco/isi'n—'W.  H.  Haskins. 

H'alla  Walla— y  Kenoycr. 

White  River— \.  M.  Tharp.  Z.  :\IcXew.  W.  A.  Oler. 

West  Des  Moines—].  E.  Ham. 

West  yebtaska—].  J.  Ha.skins. 

West  Kansas— }.  S.  Rock,   \V.  H.  Davis. 

df,lk<;ates  absent. 
East  Des  Moines— H.  \V.  Baktr. 
Elkhorn—'E.  P.  Mead. 
Neosho — J.  Wilkison. 
Rock  River— yi.  V.  Crom. 
South  Missoiisi—O.  W.  Masters,  S.  Huff. 
Il'isconsin — J.  Appleby. 
Walla  Walla— J.  Black. 
H^est  Des  Moines— H.  Seiniiller. 

H.  O.  Kerns,  alternate  from  Walla  Walla  conference,  was  seated  as 
a  delegate  in  place  of  J.  Black,  delegate  elect,  and  J.  J.  Margilleth, 
alternate  from  tiie  Rock  River  conference,  in  place  of  M.  V.  Crom. 

C.  L.  Wood,  of  North  Michigan  conference,  was,  by  ballot,  elected 
Reading  Secretary,  and  N.  R.  Luce,  of  Erie  conference.  Recording 
Secretary. 

On  motion  of  W.  Dillon,  the  bar  of  the  house  was  fixed  at  the  sixth 
tiei-  of  seats  from  the  front  of  the  room. 

W.  Dillon  moved  that  the  Rules  of  Order  adopted  at  the  last  Gen- 
eral Conference  be  adopted  for  the  government  of  this  session. 

('.  H.  Kiracofe  moved  as  a  substitute.  That  a  committee  be  appointed 
on  Rules  of  Order.     Suljstitute  carried. 

W.  H.  Clay  moved  that  the  bishops  appoint  the  usual  committees. 
Carried. 

Bishop  Milton  Wright,  in  behalf  of  the  board  of  bishops,  announced 
the  committees  as  follows: 

STANDING  COMMITTERS. 

On  Devotion— W.  H.  Clay,  J.  E.  Bodine,  A.  W.  Geesliu,  J.  Stahl,  J.  French. 

On  Rules  of  Order— C.  H.  Kiracofe,  Z.  McNew,  E.  C.  Wyatt. 

Oh  Credential.^— U.  B.  Sherk,  J.  F;xcell,  S.  B.  McGrew,  H.  H.  Williams,  W.  H.  Haskins. 

On  Ways  and  Mean.s—W.  H.  Clay,  M.  F.  Keiter,  N.  D.  VVolfard,  C.  Bender. 

On  Correspondence— C.  I..  Wood,  N.  R.  Luce,  J.  Excell,  J.  M.  Smiley,  H.  O.  Kerns. 

On  State  of  the  Church  and  Countr\ — I.  M.  Tharp,  J.  M.  John.son,  A.  Wonnan,  A.  G. 
Johnson,  J.  McBruU-. 

On  .\/i.'..ui>ii.s  and  Chiin/i  I'.rcclinn  -C.  H.  Kiracofe,  V..  C.  Wyatt,  Wni.  Dillon,  S.  S.  Sims. 
J.  Noel,  J.  W.  Stewart,  W.  S.  Titus. 

On  /■:ducation—'W.  H.  Davis,  C.  H.  Kiracofe,  E.  C.  Wyatt.  E.  J.  Moody,  B.  (;.  lluher, 
W.  A.  Oler. 

On  Puhlisliini:  /iilrrcsl.'.—W.  S.  Titus,  J.  K.  Nelson,  I.  M.  Tharp,  N.  k.  I.uce,  I).  B. 
Sherk,  J.  W.  Stewart,  C.  \..  Wood. 


UNITED  BKETHREN  IN  CHRIST.  5 

Oil  Inco)  t>oi  ation  of  the  Churcli — W.  H.  Clay,  A.  W.  Gceslin,  J.  Keiioyt-i.  S.  W.  Kern, 
A.  G.  Johnson,  J.  Hoffhines. 

Oh  Memorials  and  Petitions — J.  French,  J.  Hoffhines,  E.  P.  Mead,  J.  Kxcell,  k.  K.  Mc- 
Cormack. 

0)i  Appeals—S.  Austin,  J.  Appleby,  H.  H.  Williams,  S.  B.  McGrew,  J.  K.  Ham,  C.  W. 
Backus. 

On  Siipciiiitendency — W.  Miller,  A.  W.  Geesliu,  J.  K.  Alwood. 

General  Conference  Picture— K.  B.  Lilly,  J.  E.  Bodine,  N.  D.  Wolfard. 

REVISION  COMMITTEES. 

No.  I — Discipline.  Chapter  IV;  pages  19-31 — B.  G.  Huber,  B.  W.  Mason,  E.  P  Mead,  J. 
Riley,  J.  McBride. 

No.  2 — Discipline,  Chapter  V;  pages  31-49 — A.  W.  Geeslin,  J.  H.  McNew,  S.  B.  McGrew. 
H.  O.  Kerns,  W.  Trace. 

No.  3 — Discipline,  Chapter  VI;  pages  49-69 — Wm.  Miller,  H.  O.  Kerns,  J.  E.  Ham,  W. 
A.  Oler,  H.  Seimiller. 

No.  4 — Discipline,  Chapter  VII  and  VIII;  pages  69-82 — A.  Wornian,  P.  Beck,  T.  J.  But- 
terfield,  C.  B.  Sherk,  C.  .Schlappi. 

No.  5 — Discipline,  Chapters  IX,  X,  XI,  XII;  pages  82-91 — J.  M.  Johnson,  Wni.  Dillon, 
J.  Wilkison,  R.  D.  McCormack,  E.  Atkinson. 

No.  5 — Discipline.  Chapter  XIII;  pages  91-101— J.  K.  Alwood,  E.  C.  Wj-att,  J.  J.  Margil- 
leth,  Z.  McNew,  G.  W.  Masters. 

No.  7 — Discipline.  Chapters  XIV,  XV,  XVI;  pages  ioi-n6 — J.  K.  Nelson,  \V.  A.  Oler,  E. 
J.  Moody,  J.  P.  Cotton,  S.  Huff. 

No.  8— Discipline,  Chapters  XVII,  XVIII;  pages  116-125— W.  Dillon.  C.  L.  Wood.  D.  O. 
Tussing,  W.  S.  Titus,  C.  H.  Kiracofe. 

No.  g— Discipline,  Chapters  XIX,  XX;  pages  125-138 — A.  Bennett,  W.  H.  Clay,  J.  S. 
Rock,  W.  H.  Davis,  J.  Appleby. 

No.  10 — Discipline,  Chapter  XXI;  pages  136-155 — Z.  McNew,  J.  K.  Nelson,  J.  M.  Smiley, 
T.  J.  Butterfield,  J.  Noel,  D.  O.  Tussing,  Wm.  Miller,  W.  B.  Mason,  J.  K.  Alwood,  B.  Hamp, 
E.  J.  Moody,  J.  Riley,  C.  Schlappi,  S.  S.  Sims,  A.  B.  Powell,  C.  Bender,  J.  Stahl,  W.  H. 
Haskins,  S.  W.  Kern,  D.  W.  Baker,  J.  T.  Allaman,  J.  E.  Ham,  E.  Atkinson.  S.  Huff,  J.  S. 
Rock,  S.  Austin,  J.  J.  Haskius,  J.  Wilkison,  J.  H.  McNew,  J.  P.  Cotton,  C.  W.  Backus,  P. 
Beck,  A.  Bennett,  J.  Kenoyer. 

No.  II — Discipline,  Chapter  XXII;  pages  155-157 — C.  B.  Sherk,  J.  T.  Allaman,  D.  W. 
Baker,  B.  W.  Mason,  C.  Bender, 

On  motion  of  W.  H.  Clay,  one  hundred  copies  of  the  report  were 
ordered  printed. 

By  order  of  the  Conference,  a  committee  on  Ways  and  Means  was 
appointed. 

On  motion  of  C.  L.  Wood,  the  bishops  were  requested  to  api)oint 
reporters  for  such  journals  as  they  might  select,  to  officially  report  the 
proceedings  of  the  Conference. 

A.  Worman  moved  that  when  Conference  adjourns,  it  adjourn  to 
meet  at  8:30  A.  M.  (local  time)  tomorrow.     Motion  prevailed. 

Rev.  J.  E.  Bodine,  pastor  of  the  local  church,  in  behalf  of  the  church 
and  the  town  and  vicinity  of  Hudson,  delivered  the  following  address  of 
welcome: 

Dear  Bishops,  Delegates,  I'isitiiig  Members  and  Fi  tends  of  t/ie  Cliurcli  of  tlic  L'nitcd 
Biethrcn  in  Clirist: 

It  affords  me,  indeed,  very  great  pleasure  to  welcome  you  all  in  behalf  of  Hudson  Class. 
We  feel  that  we  have  been  honored  in  having  the  General  Conference  of  our  beloved 


6  GENERAL  CONFERENCE. 

church  assemble  here.  Cominp,  as  you  do,  the  tried  representatives  of  the  true  United 
Brethren  Church,  we  extend  Christian  greeting.  The  oppcsition  and  often  bitter  persecu- 
tions through  which  we  have  been  passing  have  been,  no  doubt,  the  means  of  binding  us 
closer  in  thf  bonds  of  Christian  union.  We  are,  it  seems  in  truth,  I'nited  Brethren  in 
Christ.  Truly,  the  I^ord  has  been  verj'  good  to  us  in  all  the  conflict.  How  good  it  seems 
after  becoming  acquainted,  in  a  sense,  through  our  church  paper,  the  Christian  Conserva- 
tor, to  be  permitted  now  to  greet  one  another,  face  to  face,  and  to  enjoy  the  communion  of 
saints.  God  grant  that  this  quadrennial  .session  may  be  one  of  great  spiritual  good  to  us 
all.     May  it  be  a  time  ot  refreshing  from  the  presence  of  the  Lord. 

It  shall  be  our  greatest  plea.sure  to  make  your  stay  with  us  pleasant  for  you.  Our  abil- 
ities are  somewhat  limited,  but  our  will  is  good.  As  we  look  into  your  faces  we  behold  the 
marks  of  age.  Many  of  you,  evidently,  are  in  the  decline  of  life,  and  now  are  assembled 
in  your  last  General  Conlerence.  Before  another  Conference  shall  convene  some  will  have 
joined  the  church  triumphant.  Welcome,  welcome,  thrice  welcome  to  the  tried  and  true. 
God  grant  you  all  a  mo.st  precious,  harmonious,  and  glorious  General  Confe-rence. 

By  request,  Bishoi)  H.  J.  Becker  responded  in  behalf  of  the  Confer- 
ence, in  a  few  well  chosen  and  appropriate  words. 

On  motion  of  W.  Dillon,  the  Conference  adjourned.  Prayer  by  W. 
S.  Titus.     Benediction  by  Bishop  H.  Floyd. 

SECOND  DAY— MORNING  SESSION. 
Friday,  May  19,  1889. 

At  8:.'W  the  Conference  convened  and  was  called  to  order  by  Bishop 
H.  T.  Barnaby,  who  presided.     B.  Hamp  conducted  the  devotions. 

The  roll  was  called,  the  minutes  were  read,  corrected  and  approved. 

On  motion  of  C.  H.  Kiracofe,  all  honorary  titles  were  ordered  omit- 
ed  hereafter  from  the  minutes. 

C.  L.  Wood,  at  his  own  request,  was  excused  from  acting  further  as 
reading  secretary,  and  M.  F.  Keiter  was,  by  ballot,  elected  in  his  stead. 

The  Bishops  announced  the  names  of  the  reporters  appointed. 

The  Bishops  were  requested  to  appoint  a  committee  to  consider  the 
propriety  of  undertaking  to  procure  a  shox't-hand  i-eporter. 

The  following  resolution  was  adopted: 

Rfisolvcd,  That  we  hereby  instruct  the  various  committees  on  revision  of  Discipline  to 
so  revise  the  portions  of  Discipline  committed  to  them  as  to  do  away  with  the  pre.sent 
form  of  questions  and  answers,  and  to  put  the  matter  into  the  form  of  ,simple  statements 
or  injunctions,  except  in  cases  where  the  circumstances  demand  the  interrogative  form. 

C.  H.  Kiracofe. 

D.  B.  SUERK. 

C.  B.  Sherk,  .T.  K.  Alwood  and  C.  H.  Kiracofe  were  ai)pointed  the 
commitec  on  Short-hand  Reporter. 

The  coramittee  on  Rules  of  Order  reported.  The  i-ules  recommended 
were  auiciided  and  adoi)ted  as  follows  and  ordiM-cd  printed: 

RVLKS  OK  ORDER. 

I.  The  Conference  shall  tueet  ot  8:00  a.  m.  and  2:00  i-.  m..  and  adjourn  on  motion. 

II.  The  president  shall  take  the  chair  precisely  at  the  hour  to  which  the  Conference 
stood  adjourned,  and  shall  cause  that  an  ho\ir's  devotioml  services  be  conducted  each 


UNITED  BRETHREN  IN  CHRIST.  7 

tnoruiug,  and  devotional  services  consisting  in  the  reading  of  the  word  of  God,  singing  and 
prayer,  be  conducted  each  afternoon. 

III.  When  it  is  apparent  to  the  president  that  a  quorum  is  present  (a  niajoritj-  shall 
constitute  a  quorum),  he  shall  have  the  journal  of  the  previous  day's  proceedings  read  and 
approved,  and  the  business  of  the  Conference  shall  be  conducted  in  the  following  order: 

(i.)     Miscellaneous  besiness. 

(2.)     Reports,  first,  of  standing  committees,  then  special  committees. 

IV.  The  president  shall  decide  all  points  of  order,  subject  to  an  appeal  to  the  confer- 
ence; but  in  case  of  an  appeal  the  question  shall  be  taken  without  debate,  except  tliat  the 
appellant  may  state  the  grounds  of  his  appeal,  and  the  chair  may  give  the  grounds  of  his 
decision. 

V.  The  bishops  shall  appoint  all  committees  unless  otherwise  specially  ordered  by 
the  Conference. 

VI.  On  assigning  the  floor  to  any  member,  the  president  shall  announce  the  name  of 
the  member  and  the  conference  he  represents. 

VII.  Resolutions  shall  be  presented  in  writing  by  the  mover,  and  all  motions  shall  be 
submitted  in  writing  when  the  president,  secretary,  or  any  two  members  require  it. 

VIII.  Any  member  desiring  to  speak,  or  present  any  matter  to  the  Conference,  shall 
rise  and  respectfully  address  the  president  and  conference,  and  shall  not  proceed  until  he 
is  properly  recognized  by  the  chair  and  his  name  announced  by  him. 

IX.  No  member  shall  be  interrupted  when  speaking,  except  by  the  president  to  call 
him  to  order  when  he  departs  from  the  question,  or  uses  offensive  personalities  or  disre- 
spectful language;  but  any  member  may  call  the  attention  of  the  president  to  the  matter 
when  he  deems  the  speaker  out  of  order,  and  a  member  may  explain  when  he  thinks  him- 
self misrepresented,  the  speaker  retaining  the  floor. 

X.  When  a  member  desires  to  speak  to  a  question  of  privilege,  he  shall  briefly  state 
the  question;  but  it  shall  not  be  in  order  for  him  to  proceed  until  the  president  shall  have 
decided  it  a  question  of  privilege. 

XI.  No  person  shall  speak  more  than  twice  on  the  same  question,  nor  more  than  ten 
(10)  minutes  at  one  time,  without  leave  of  the  Conference;  nor  shall  any  person  speak 
more  than  once  until  every  member  choosing  to  speak  shall  have  spoken;  provided,  how- 
ever, that  a  committee  making  a  report  shall  in  all  cases  be  entitled  to  five  (5)  minutes  to 
close  the  debate  on  the  motion  to  adopt.  The  committee,  however,  shall  not  be  deprived 
of  its  right  to  close  the  debate,  even  after  the  previous  question  has  been  ordered. 

XII.  When  a  question  is  before  the  Conference,  the  mover  may  withdraw  it  at  any 
time  before  it  has  been  amended,  or  before  a  vote  has  bten  taken,  if  no  objection  has  been 
offered.  If  objection  be  made  to  the  withdrawal,  a  vote  on  the  motion  to  grant  leave  of 
withdrawal  shall  be  taken  without  amendment  or  debate. 

XIII.  When  any  motion  or  resolution  shall  have  been  acted  upon  by  the  Conference, 
it  shall  be  in  order  frr  any  member  who  voted  with  the  prevailing  side  to  move  a  reconsid- 
eration; but  a  motion  to  reconsider  a  non-debatable  motion  must  be  decided  without  de- 
bate. A  motion  to  reconsider  must  be  made  on  the  same  or  succeeding  day  on  which  the 
action  was  taken. 

XIV.  No  member  shall  absent  himself  from  the  sessions  of  the  Conference  without 
leave,  unless  he  is  sick,  or  otherwise  unable  to  attend.  ( 

XV.  No  member  shall  be  allowed  to  vote  on  any  question  who  is  not  within  the  bar  at 
the  time  when  such  question  shall  be   put  by  the  president. 

XVI.  It  shall  be  in  order  for  any  member  to  call  for  the  yeas  and  nays  on  any  question 
before  the  Conference,  and  if  the  call  be  sustained  bj'  thirtj'  members,  the  vote  shall  be 
taken  by  yeas  and  nays,  and  all  members  within  the  bar  shall  be  required  to  vote. 

XVII.  All  written  motions  and  reports  after  their  first  reading,  and  all  communica- 
tions to  the  Conference,  shall  be  passed  to  the  secretary  to  be  read  by  him  as  the  Confer- 
ence may  require. 

XVIII.  All  elections  of  officers  shall  be  by  ballot,  and  a  majority  of  all  the  votes  cast 
shall  be  necessarj'  to  a  choice. 


«  c;  1-:  i\  10  L  { A  L  c  o  -\  !•'  !•:  J :  i:  n  c  e. 

XIX.  Till.-  election  of  seueral  ofificers  of  the  church  sliall  be  in  the  following  order: 
(I.I     lii.shop.s. 

(2.)     Editor  of  Die  Climlian  C<»is,-iva/oi. 

(3.)     Publishing  agent. 

(4)     Editor  of  the  Sunday-school  literature. 

(5-)     Mis.sionarj'  .secretary. 

(6.)     Missionary  treasurer. 

{7)     Manager  of  l'.  B.  Seminary. 

(8.)    Trustees  of  the  Printing  Establishment. 

(9.)     Members  of  the  Mi.ssionary  ISoard. 

(10.)  Officers  of  the  Sunday-School  Board. 

(n.)  Trustees  of  Union  Biblical  Seminary. 

(12.)  Board  of  Education. 

XX.  Any  further  order  of  business  shall  be  determined  by  the  Conference,  and  in  all 
matters  not  covereil  by  these  rules,  the  usual  parliamentary  usages  as  determined  by 
Roberts'  Rule.-  of  Order  shall  be  followed. 

XXI.  Tliese  rules  shall  not  be  changed  or  suspended,  except  by  a  vote  of  two-thirds  of 
the  members  present  and  voting,  provided  tliat  in  the  order  of  elections  a  majority  vote 
may  determine  a  change. 

The  committee  on  Short-hand  Kepoi-ter  recommended  the  employ- 
ment of  a  competent  reporter,  provided  one  could  be  secured  by  the 
open  in  j^-  of  tomorrow  mornino-'s  session.  The  recommendation  was 
adoi)ted,  and  the  committee  on  Ways  and  Means,  together  with  the 
Publishing  Agent,  were  ordered  lo  arrange,  if  possible,  for  such  reporter. 

After  prayer  by  S.  W.  Kern,  the  Conference  adjourned. 

SECOND  DAY— AFTERNOON  SESSION. 

Conference  convened  at  2:00  P.  M.,  Bishop  H.  T.  Barnaby  in  the 
chair.     A.  W.  Geeslin,  of  Missouri,  led  the  devotion. 

On  motion  of  W.  Dillon,  the  name  of  Rev.  L.  Davi.s,  D.  D.,  who  htid 
died  within  the  quadrennium,  was  referred  to  the  committee  on  Memoirs. 

Letters  were  read  fi-om  M.  V.  Crom,  of  Rock  River  conference,  and 
.1.  Ajipleby,  of  Wisconsin  conference,  delegates  elected  to  represent  their 
respective  conferences,  l)ut  wlio,  t)wing  to  affliction  and  other  unavoida- 
ble circumstances,  could  not  be  present.  These  letters,  expressive  of 
brotherly  greeting  and  encouragement,  were  referred  to  the  committee 
on  c()rresi)onden('0. 

Tlic  Bisliop's  •^)uadrennial  Addi-ess  was  tlicn  i-cad  ])y  Bishop 
Wriglit.  and  listened  to  with  marked  attention  and  appreciation,  ])y  the 
Conlei-ence  and  the  congregation  present.     The  address  was  as  follows: 

TIIIC   msilors   .KDDRliSS. 

Di'aily  Heloved  liirlhifn,  JMt'f>alcs  of  llir  Ann  mil  LDii/ri  nicrs  of  the  I'liitcd  BnHliicu 
in  Christ,  in  (imifral  Confn  nice  assembled: 

Convened  under  a  inirely  representative  system  of  government  by  the  people,  lo  delib- 
erate on  the  wants  and  interests  of  the  church,  and  to  ])rovide  such  legislation  and  to  make 
such  arrangements  as  those  wants  and  interests  demantl.  it  is  impoitant  that  all  and  each 
give  good  attention  and  the  best  possible  effort  to  the  accomplishment  of  those  ends,  nor 
can  yo\i  succeed  without  the  abundjint  grace  of  (■(xl  and  the  aid  of  the  Holy  Spirit.   We  ask 


UNJTEU  BKi.TiillL:x\  IN  CHRIST.  9 

that  all  unite  in  invoking  the  Divine  benediction  to  rest  on  this  Conference,  upon  the  sever- 
al annual  conferences,  and  upon  the  homes  of  our  loved  ones.  The  purest,  most  intelligent, 
and  most  abiding  spirituality  should  pervade  this  assembly.  Without  Christ  we  can  do 
nothing;  in  him  we  can  do  all  things. 

May  it  appear  in  us  how  good  and  pleasant  is  the  peaceful  dwelling  of  brethren  togeth- 
er. May  this  abiding  here  be  ever  a  joy  in  our  memories.  To  this  end,  let  us  remember 
the  apostolic  injunction,  "Be  kind;  be  courteous."  May  we  in  honor  prefer  one  another. 
Let  love  be  without  hjpocrisy.  Be  not  wise  in  your  own  conceits.  Set  not  your  mind  on 
high  things,  but  be  carried  away  with  things  which  are  lowly.  Brethren,  may  not  the  ac- 
rimony of  worldly  assemblies  have  any  place  in  our  discu-ssions.  None  will  ever  regret  the 
utterance  of  kind  words,  but  words  unkind  will  fester  in  the  memon,-.  Let  us  rise  above 
the  least  acrimony  of  debate.  Let  us  resolve,  "I  will,  the  Lord  being  my  helper,"  and  the 
needed  grace  will  be  given. 

Through  the  kind  providence  of  God.  not  one  of  those  who  composed  this  Conference 
four  years  ago  has  been  removed  bj-  death.  Yet  one  whose  words  then  cheered  us  and 
whose  means  then  came  to  our  aid,  no  longer  tarries  on  theshore  of  time.  Dr.  Lewis  Davis, 
fiill  of  years  and  strong  in  old  age,  died  like  he  had  lived.  He  w-as  to  the  very  last,  in 
heart,  in  word  and  in  deed,  true  to  his  principles,  true  to  his  church,  and  true  to  his  God. 
On  the  23rd  day  of  March,  1890,  the  spirit  of  this  master  in  Israel  took  its  heavenward 
flight.     His  last  testimony  was  not  less  grand  than  his  life. 

"He  soared 
Victorious  as  a  conquerer  to  his  throne." 
Few  men  are  of  so  fine  a  mould  for  greatness  as  was   he.     In  body,  in  spirit,  in  mind,  in 
heart,  in  character,  in  deeds,  perhaps  none  in  the  historj'  of  the  church  has  excelled  him. 

We  honor  the  fathers,  if  we  maintain  their  righteous  principles.  We  honor  their  lives 
and  teachings  and  laws.  We  love  the  reform  principles  which  were  approved  of  them  and 
of  Ciod,  and  we  stand  on  the  moral  platform  hallowed  by  their  prayers,  teachings  and  sac- 
rifices. They  built  on  true  principles  which  we  will  not  forsake  for  earthly  riches  or  carnal 
praise  and  patronage.  Ours  are  the  victories,  liiographies  and  history  of  the  church.  May 
we  add  worthy  pages  to  that  history. 

Perhaps  a  more  important  session  of  this  body  has  never  convened.  The  past  four 
years  has  been  a  period  of  reconstruction.  Many  of  our  societies,  torn  by  a  revolutionary 
schism,  were  divided,  and  some  left  but  the  fragments  of  former  organization.  In 
some  cases  our  members  were  isolated  and  as  sheep  without  a  shepherd.  Our  missionarj-, 
church-erection,  Sabbath-school,  publication  and  educational  funds  and  property  were 
largely  in  the  hands  of  those  who  had  gone  out  from  us,  and  these  funds  were  turned 
against  us.  All  our  great  connectional  interests  required  readjustment,  and  some  of  them 
reconstruction.  The  task  of  some,  having  the  greatest  of  these  interests  under  their  care, 
was  of  no  ordinary  magnitude.  Their  success  has  been  beyond  the  most  sanguine  hopes 
of  those  who  knew  the  difficulties  of  those  departments.  With  these  great  interests  before 
you,  and  the  peculiar  condition  of  the  church  to  provide  for,  a  burden  is  upon  you  great 
enough  to  tax  the  strength,  the  wi.sdoni  and  courage  of  any  deliberative  assembly. 

For  the  first  two  years  of  the  past  quadrennium,  Bishop  Barnaby  attended  the  confer- 
ences of  the  North-west  district,  including,  also,  "the  Ontario  conference,  except  the  last  of 
tho.se  years  when  Bishop  Wright,  on  account  of  Brother  Baruaby's  affliction,  attended  that 
conference.  Bishop  Wright  those  years  attended  the  conferences  of  the  Ohio  and  East 
districts,  and  Bishop  Floyd  the  conferences  of  the  South-west  district,  including  North 
Ohio  conference.  After  this  the  bishops  alternated,  Ontario,  however,  being  presided  over 
as  a  part  of  the  Ohio  district,  to  which  it  really  belongs.  Bishop  Becker  presided  annually 
over  all  the  conferences  of  the  Pacific  district.  Only  one  conference  did  a  bishop  fail  to  at- 
tend (South  Missouri  in  1S92),  and  that  on  account  of  a  sudden  and  almost  imperative  sum- 
mons to  attend  an  important  church  interest  many  hundred  miles  away.  The  sessions 
were  generally  attended  with  extraordinary  harinony  and  spiritual  power,  probably  much 
greater  than  in  any  previous  years  of  the  last  quarter  of  a  century.  Some  of  the  conferences, 
though  somewhat  depleted  bj-  the  division  of  the  church,  remained  strong  and  well  organ- 


10  GENERAL  CONFERENCK. 

ized.  Others  were  weak  and  of  liiiiited  organization.  Sessions  were  held  in  thirty-four 
conferences.  In  some  others  arrangements  for  ses.-ions  failed.  But  the  past  year  has  de- 
veloped considerable  organization  in  three  more  conferences.  While  we  could  recommend 
the  uniting  of  a  few  of  the  weaker  conferences  with  others,  we  would  advise  a  very  temper- 
ate use  of  such  consolidation.  We  suggest  that  so  far  as  easily  practicable  it  would  be  well 
to  arrange  the  boundaries  of  our  conferences  conformably  to  state  lines,  and  otherwise 
sim])lify  boundary  lines. 

While  our  publishing  interests  have  not  had  the  scope  that  could  have  been  desired, 
their  financial  success  has  been  greater  than  the  most  sanguine  covild  have  hoped  forunder 
the  circumstances.  This  department  began  with  a  .small  debt  on  the  Chn'slian  Consrrvator. 
which  has  been  nearly  extinguished,  and  assets  amounting  to  about  $1,200  have  been  added 
to  our  publication  department.  Our  paper  has  had  a  verj'  large  circulation,  and  has  been 
a  great  strength  to  the  church.  Our  Sabbath-school  literature  has  been  from  the  first  a 
decided  success,  and  its  circulation  is  now  rapidly  increasing.  The  publication  department 
of  our  work  should,  and  no  doubt  will,  receive  your  very  careful  attention. 

The  greatest  embarrassments  have  surrounded  our  niissionarj-  operations.  I'nder  the 
circinn stances,  nearly  every  conference  felt  as  if  it  had  enough  to  do  to  maintain  its  own 
local  indispensable  interests.  Besides,  the  mis.sion  funds  of  the  church  were  in  the  hands 
of  thase  who  had  left  the  old  Constitution  and  organized  on  a  new.  The  parent  society  and 
the  Woman's  Missionary  Association  each  had  before  it  a  work  of  reconstruction.  And 
right  well  has  this  been  accomplished.  In  the  later  years  of  the  quadrennium  the  receipts 
of  the  society  have  been  greatly  increased.  We  are  emphatically  a  missionary-  church,  and 
upon  a  continuance  of  the  mi.ssionary  spirit  depends  our  future  success  and  vitality.  Though 
deprived  of  our  foreign  missions,  we  have  accumulated  a  nice  little  sum  toward  the  estab- 
lishment of  such  a  mi.ssion. 

Our  Church  Erection  Society  especially  suflfered  in  the  disarranged  condition  of  the 
church.  Our  people  having  other  interests  demanding  their  liberality,  our  itinerants  seem 
almost  to  have  excused  them  from  this  collection.  Yet  some  funds  were  raised,  and  there 
is  abundant  call  for  all  that  can  be  raised.  A  fresh  impetus  should  be  given  to  this  very 
useful  department. 

The  Sabbath-.schools  of  the  church  are  doing  well,  and  their  loyalty  to  the  church  is 
shown  by  their  earnest  call  for  our  own  literature,  which  they  generally  patronize.  But 
the  work  of  the  General  Sabbath-school  Board  has  not  prospered.  It  is  to  be  hoped  that 
the  efficiency  of  this  arm  of  our  church  .service  will  be  greatly  increased  during  the  coming 
four  years.  On  the  conversion  and  religious  instruction  of  the  children  greatly  depends 
the  future  of  our  denomination. 

Our  educational  institutions  should  receive  your  earnest  attention.  No  church  can 
prosper  in  this  age  without  the  elevation  of  its  people  in  science  and  literature.  A  sancti- 
fied education  being  essential  to  the  church,  it  behooves  us  to  look  well  to  our  colleges  and 
seminaries.  Our  people  are  carrying  forward  a  few  institutions,  and  these  should  receive 
your  sympathy  and  encouragement.  Our  theological  institution  is  at  present  in  the  hands 
of  others,  and  for  the  time  being  we  look  to  other  sources  for  the  training  of  our  young 
minister,^  in  theology.  It  is  very  imiiort.int  that  you  provide  some  arrangement  to  meet 
this  want  for  the  present  time. 

The  building  up  of  a  pious,  able  and  learned  spiritual  ministrj'  should  engage  your  earnest 
thought  and  effort.  No  doubt  it  does.  I.et  us,  with  God's  help,  have  a  first-class  ministry. 
Especially  do  we  call  your  attention  to  providing  not  only  a  well  qualified  ministry,  but 
one  fully  given  to  the  ministerial  calling.  And  we  call  your  attention  to  the  fact  that  there 
is  danger  that  the  local  ministry  will  too  largely  become  only  nominal  preachers.  We  ad- 
vise such  safeguards  as  will  make  nominal  ministers  impossible  among  us. 

.\t  such  a  time  as  this  it  is  especially  important  that  we  raise  no  questions  on  which 
members  differ  on  phases  of  doctrine,  or  otherwise,  in  matters  churchly  or  political, 
but  that  we  leave  it  for  each  to  net  in  the  best  lirht  he  has.  Satan  and  nil  other  foes  would 
(Ulight  til  have  us  wrnngU-  here  and   thidughiMit   dur  denominiitioti.     our  Cod  has  called 


UNITED  BKI^THREN  IN  CHRIST.  11 

us  to  peace.  Let  us  imitate  the  example  of  the  Fathers,  who  agfitated  in  the  church  only 
the  questions  on  which  they  were  agreed. 

Unfortunately,  and  we  greatly  deplored  it,  we  are  under  the  necessity  of  maintaining 
our  rights  in  the  civil  courts.  If  we  should  not  maintain  the  trusts  confided  to  our  care  by 
the  pious  living  and  sainted  dead,  we  could  not  expect  future  benefactions  to  our  church. 
Strong  pressure,  on  the  gr6und  of  the  .superior  numbers  of  our  adversaries,  and  other  pop- 
ular favor,  has  been  brought  to  bear  on  the  courts,  and  several  decisions  in  the  lower 
courts  were  made  against  our  claims,  but  of  the  only  decisions  in  the  higher  courts  two  out 
of  three  are  in  our  favor.  These  decisions — one  of  them  quite  recent — put  a  favorable  as- 
pect on  our  legal  controversy,  and  justly  inspire  our  people  with  hope  While  the  expenses 
have  been  large,  they  have  been  very  small  compared  with  the  usual  costs  of  litigations  of 
so  vast  magnitude  and  importance. 

We  humbly  suggest  to  the  consideration  of  this  conference  the  following  recommen- 
dations: 

1.  That  you  make  better  provi.sions  for  the  poor  among  our  people. 

2.  That  you  provide  for  improved  pastoral  relations. 

3.  That  you  put  the  educational  collections  side  by  side  with  the  missionary  collections 
in  the  pastor's  duties  and  his  chart  reports,  aiming,  at  the  earliest  possible  period,  to  sup- 
port our  educational  institutions  thereby. 

4.  That  you  provide  uniform  regulations  for  lay-delegation  for  such  annual  conferences 
as  may  adopt  lay-delegation. 

5.  That  you  take  careful  measures  to  provide  a  suitable  hymnal  for  our  regular  church 
worship. 

6.  That  you  resolve  and  provide  for  the  maintenance  of  our  rights  in  the  civil  courts. 

7.  That  you  make  the  fewest  pos.sible  changes  in  the  rules  of  our  Discipline. 

We  hold  that  any  and  all  churches  have  a  natural  and  scriptural  right  to  organization, 
and  to  ueces.sary  regulations.  We  know  that  two  can  not  walk  together  unless  they  are 
agreed.  We  believe  that  organic  unity  is  verj'  desirable  when  the  proper  conditions  there- 
to can  be  met,  and  only  in  .such  case,  otherwise  it  will  be  attended  with  strife  and  confusion. 
The  Roman  Church  is  an  example  of  organic  unity,  attended  with  disorder  and  much  evil. 
The  Reformation  brought  diversity.  The  Puritans,  Methodists,  and  our  own  church  are 
examples  of  its  utility.  Even  errorists  may  serve  Providential  ends.  They  often  call 
attention  to  a  neglected  subject  or  duty,  and  often  they  check  extravagance  of  views  or 
utterance.     Let  us  maintain  the  true  object  of  our  organization. 

One  proper  object  of  organization  is  the  communion  of  saints  Another  is  the  edifica- 
tion— mental,  moral  and  spiritual — of  believers.  Anotjier  is  the  protection  it  affords  to  the 
weak,  and  to  all.  It  makes  a  bundle  that  can  not  be  broken.  Another  very  important 
object  is  the  discipline  and  training  of  members  in  their  conduct  and  actions.  Not  less  im- 
portant objects  are  public  worship,  charity,  and  the  evangelization  of  the  world  to  Christ. 

To  promote  these  ends,  vital  godliness,  sound  doctrine,  pure  worship,  consistent  disci- 
pline, and  real  efficiency  are  essential.  Godliness  is  promoted  by  sound  teaching,  correct 
practice,  becoming  and  effective  methods,  the  exclusion  of  e\-il-doers  and  heritics,  and  by 
zeal  and  united  efforts  to  attain  the  highest  degree  of  grace,  and  to  promote  the  foregoing 
ends  and  objects. 

At  such  a  time  as  this  we  are  very  liable  to  a  proneness  to  new  or  partially  accepted 
doctrines  and  theories.  Let  us  rather  seek  the  beaten  path  of  orthodoxy.  Let  us  look  to 
the  faith  which  has  been  tried. 

Let  our  methods  and  worship  be  simple  and  unostentious;  let  them  be  of  the  heart 
instead  of  mere  form  and  sound.  Our  efficiency  as  a  church  can  be,  and  should  be,  pro- 
moted by  godly  vitality,  genuine  church  activity,  heart-felt  liberality,  and  sanctified  culture 
and  intelligence.  And  to  promote  these,  judicious  boards,  effective  officers,  and  well  pro- 
jected enterprises,  and  well  arranged  departments,  are  of  great  value. 

With  these  great  ends  before  us,  we  are  a  spectacle  to  men  and  angels,  and  have  in  our 
hands  to  make  a  record  for  time  and  eternity.  May  you  be  girded  for  the  responsibilities 
of  this  session.     May  the  God  of  all  grace  fill  you  with  the  spirit  of  knowledge  and  wisdom 


12  GKXHItAr.  COXKKJIKNCK 

and  ofa  .sound  iiiiiul.     May  that  peace  which  pas>-.-s  all  iui(kr.-.laiidins  keep  your  mi-ids 
aud  hearts  in  the  knowledge  of  Jesus  Chrif^t  our  I.ord.  Mii/roN  Wkight. 

H.  T.  Haunaby. 

Hali.kck  Kloyd. 

Henky  J.  Hkckick. 

Ai  ilic:  e-luse  of  llie  a(ld^t;^!;!s  all  joined  in  a  suny  of  praisu. 
(.'.  H.  Kiracofe,  Wissionai-y  Secretary  and  Tfeasurer,  then   read  llie 
foUowinj^'  (jLiadrennial  reports  of  these  intei-ests: 

MISSIONARY  SKCR1-;TAKY'S  REPORT, 

Tv  tlir  (ioiri  al  Onijci  eiict'  of  the  Chiiicit  of  the  I  'm'tcd  Bicthifu  in  Chi  isl. 

Dkar  Bkkthrkx: — If  at  the  laying  of  the  foundation  of  the  second  temple  iii  Jerusalem, 
the  priests  and  the  I.evitcs  aud  the  chiefs  of  tlie  fathers  of  Israel  had  occasion  for  both 
weeping  and  rejoicing,  so  that  it  was  difficult  to  determine  which  feeling  prevailed — weep- 
ing becar.se  of  the  comparative  in.significance  in  size  and  material  grandeur  of  the  latter 
temple,  as  compared  with  the  former — rejoicing,  because  of  the  prospect  that  they  were 
still  to  liave  a  temple,  though  apparently  inferior,  and  because  of  its  anticipated  future 
spiritual  glory — certainly  we,  tlie  priests  aud  I^'vites  and  ciiief  fathers  of  the  Church  of  the 
United  Brethren  in  Christ,  have  occasion  for  a  like  commingling  of  feelings,  as  we  are  here 
assembled  for  the  pnrpo.se  of  rebuilding,  as  it  were,  the  temple  of  our  Zipn.  which,  In- 
wicked  hands,  was  well  nigh  demolished  four  years  ago.  It  is  with  commingled  feeling  of 
weeping  and  rejoicing  that  I  present  to  you  this  the  tenth  quadrennial  report  of  our  mis- 
sionary work  as  a  church — weeping  when  I  consider  the  in.significance  of  this  report,  as  com- 
pared with  that  of  four  years  ago,  in  the  extent  of  the  terrilorj-  occupied,  the  number  of 
men  employed,  the  amount  of  money  received  aud  expended,  the  number  of  houses  built, 
and  the  inunber  of  members  included  in  our  mission  fields — rejoicing  when  I  remember 
that  the  perpetuity  of  the  church  on  the  old  foundation,  though  possibly*  with  less  material 
grandeur,  at  least  for  a  number  of  years,  is  uow  assured,  and  that  the  spiritual  glory  of 
the  latter  house  promises  to  be  superior  to  that  of  the  former. 

Four  years  ago  we  had  in  the  foreign  field  more  or  less  flourishing  missions,  in  Africa, 
Germany,  and  among  the  Chinese  on  the  Pacific  Coast;  our  frontier  field  consisted  of  three 
mission  di.stricts  and  eleven  mission  conferences  in  the  United  States  and  Canada,  repre- 
senting, as  reported,  21,648  members,  27S  preachers,  241  church-houses,  valued  at  $235,451; 
and  these  members  were  pajing  annually  to  the  church  <;97,433. 12.  Besides,  the  Board  had  a 
permanent  fund  for  missions  ofa  little  over  $<S6, 000.  At  the  beginning  of  the  quadrenuium, 
as  a  result  of  the  schism  in  the  church,  the  Board  found  itself  without  any  foreign  mi.s.sions; 
with  the  three  mission  districts  and  eight  out  of  the  eleven  mi.ssiou  conferences  in  the 
frontier  field  totally  disorganized,  and  -..-.o.-X  of  tliem  with  scarcely  any  laiuisters  with  which 
to  reorganize  them,  and  without  a  dollar  of  money  in  her  treasnrj-.  Under  these  circum- 
stances the  work  of  reorganization  was  begun;  but  .scarcely  had  it  been  commenced  when 
nearly  all  the  church-houses,  and  in  .some  ca.ses,  all  other  available  houses  were  closed  against 
us.  But  hitherto  the  Lord  has  been  with  ns  and  helped  us,  so  that  to-day  ten  out  of  eleven 
mis.siou  conferences  are  in  an  organized  .state,  representing  a  membership  of  about  six  thou- 
sand, and  nearly  one  hundred  ministers  who  have  rallied  to  the  old  .standard,  while  there 
are,  doubtless,  many  others  who  are  still  true  United  Brethren,  but  we  have  not  as  yet 
been  able  to  reach  them  with  the  work  of  reorganization.  These  mini.sters  and  members 
are,  in  mo.st  cases,  the  very  best  men  anil  women  in  their  resi)ective  conferences — men  and 
wonjeu  who  have  settled  moral  convictions  aud  the  nerve  to  stand  by  them.  While  most 
of  these  conferences  have  been  seriously  weakened  aud  crippled  in  their  work,  several  of 
tliem  are  in  a  more  hopeful  condition  now  than  they  were  at  the  clo.se  of  tlie  la.st  quadren- 
uium. This  is  especially  true  of  the  Oregon  conference,  which,  uotwithslanding  the  most 
bitter  and  determined  oppo.iition,  has  .seemingly  taken  on  new  life,  and  ;:as  more  than 
doubled  her  number  of  churcli-hou.ses,  aud  niade  lietween  thirty  au<i  forty  per  cent,  of  an 


UNITED  BRETHREN  IN  CHRIST.  13 

increase  iu  her  membership  during  thequadreuiiium.  The  spirit  of  unity  and  consecration 
to  the  work  prevails  as,  possibly,  never  before. 

With  the  exception  of  two  or  three,  the  outlook  in  all  of  these  conferences  is  hopeful, 
and  it  would  be  in  all  of  them  had  we  access  to  the  church-houses,  and  a  few  more  efficient 
workers  in  the  field.  Owing  to  the  fact  that  under  the  circumstances  it  was  almost  impos- 
sible, especially  the  first  two  years,  to  get  anything  like  accurate  statistics  in  most  of  these 
conferences,  I  shall  not  attempt  to  present  the  statistical  exhibit  of  the  several  conferences 
usually  given  in  connection  with  the  quadrennial  report. 

FOREIGN    MISSION.S. 

Nothing  has  been  attempted  in  the  line  of  foreign  missionary  work,  except  that  the 
Board  at  its  annual  meeting  one  year  ago  authorized  the  Executive  committee,  iu  conjunc- 
tion with  the  tru.stees  of  the  W.  M.  A.,  to  look  up  and  report  to  the  Board  at  its  next  annual 
meeting  a  favorable  location  for  planting  a  foreign  mission,  and  ordered  its  secretary  to 
commence  at  once  to  raise  funds  for  that  purpose.  To  facilitate  the  work  of  the  secretary', 
the  church  was  asked  to  observe  the  first  week  in  Januarj'  as  a  week  of  self-denial  in  the 
interest  of  the  proposed  foreign  mis.sion.  This  request  was  approved  by  most  of  the  con- 
ferences at  their  annual  sessions  within  the  year.  Specially  prepared  Self-denial  Week 
envelopes  were  sent  to  all  the  pastors  for  use  on  their  respective  charges,  accompanied  with 
a  printed  circular  containing  suggestions  as  to  how  to  use  the  envelopes  and  to  appropri- 
ately observe  the  week.  The  week  was  observed,  so  far  as  reported,  by  a  little  less  than 
one-half  of  the  fields  of  labor  in  the  various  conferences,  but  wherever  observed  it  was  a 
success,  and  brought  into  the  trea.sury  of  the  Parent  Board  a  little  over  one  thousand  dol- 
lars; to  the  Woman's  Board  over  two  hundred  dollars;  making  now  in  the  hands  of 
the  church  a  fund  of  more  than  twelve  hundred  dollars,  special  for  foreign  missions;  and  I 
feel  quite  sure  that,  when  the  idea  is  once  well  understood  by  our  people,  from  $2,500  to 
$3,000  can  be  raised  annuall}-  in  this  way  for  this  purpose. 

As  a  church,  a  wide  and  promising  field  is  before  us,  but,  in  order  to  occupy  it,  our 
contributions  to  missions  must  be  largelj'  increased,  and  a  greater  number  of  our  young 
men  and  women  must  be  set  apart  for  and  consecrated  to  the  work. 

Two  years  ago  your  .secretary  commenced  an  effort  to  bring  up  the  mis.sionary  contri- 
butions throughout  the  church  to  an  annual  average  of  one  dollar  to  the  member;  and 
while  the  result  has  not  yet  been  reached,  commendable  and  encouraging  progress  has 
been  made  towards  it.  For  manj'  j-ears  we  had  made  an  average  of  about  twentv-five 
cents  to  the  member;  the  first  year  of  this  effort  increased  it  to  thirty-three  cents,  and  the 
second  to  forty-two,  and  everj-thing  now  indicates  that  we  shall  reach  and  pass  the  half- 
dollar  mark  in  another  year.  It  has  been  the  aim  of  your  secretary  not  only  to  secure 
increased  contributions  to  missions  but  to  all  the  interests  of  the  church,  not  only  temporari- 
ly, but  pennanently.  With  this  end  iu  view,  he  prepared  and  had  printed  at  his  own  cost 
a  pamphlet  on  Christian  Gi\-ing,  which  has  been  quite  generally  distributed  through  the 
church.  In  this  pamphlet,  as  well  as  in  the  Missionary'  Column,  generously  allowed  him 
by  the  editor  of  the  Conservator,  and  iu  his  public  addresses,  he  has  urged  the  adoption  of 
a  system  in  giving,  that  would  involve  the  apostle's  idea  of  regularity,  proportion,  and  as 
the  Lord  has  prospered  you. 

The  church  has  reason  to  be  encouraged  over  the  result  wrought.  A  much  larger  pro- 
portion of  our  people  than  ever  before  have  commenced  tithing  their  incomes;  others  have 
adopted  the.idea  of  setting  aside  a  definite  sum  each  day  or  each  week;  others  .still  have 
decided  to  give  the  income  from  some  specific  thing  or  enterprise,  while  some  have  taken 
hold  of  the  self-denial  idea  and  are  dispensing  with  the  use  of  tobacco  and  other  hurtful  or 
useless  luxuries.  Thus  the  idea  of  sj-stem  is  being  introduced  into  their  benevolence,  and  thej- 
are  giving  more  easily  and  more  cheerfully  and  in  larger  sums  than  they  ever  gave  before, 
and  many  of  them  are  being  blessed  materially  and  spiritually  as  never  before.  Owing  to  the 
unusual  financial  burdens  brought  upon  our  people  by  being  compelled  to  defend  their 
rights  before  the  courts,  and  build  new  churches  in  place  of  those  of  which  we  are  un- 
justly deprived,  it  seemed  to  me  the  field  was  not  open  for   a  direct  and  general  canva.ss 


14  CtENeral  conference. 

ill   the  iiittrcst  of  missions.     Hence  I   have  soiifjht.   as  before  indicated,  to  do  work,  the 
result  of  which  would  he  reaped  more  in  the  future  than  at  present. 

RKCOMMKND.^TIONS. 

In  conchisiou,  I  wish  to  suggest  the  following  for  your  consideration: 

1.  That  the  Oregon  conference  be  made  self-supporting  in  form,  as  it  has  been  in  real- 
ity during  the  ciuadrennium. 

2.  That  you  either  discontinue  the  Pacific  Coast  District,  or  that  the  bishop  of  the  dist- 
rict be  required  to  give  part  of  his  time  to  other  church  work  in  connection  with  his 
bishopric,  so  as  to  make  his  full  salary  on  his  district. 

3.  That  you  take  steps  towards  opening  a  foreign  mission  as  soon  as  possible. 

4.  That  you  authoratively  set  apart  the  first  week  in  January  of  each  year  to  be  ob- 
served as  a  self-denial  week  in  the  interest  of  .said  foreign  mission. 

5.  That  you  disband  the  (General  Sabbath-School  Board  as  such,  and  connect  the  inter- 
ests now  controlled  bj-  that  board  with  the  Missionary-  Board,  to  be  managed  in  the  same 
way  as  are  the  Church  Erection  interests,  and  that  the  Children's  Day  collection  be  for 
missions  instead  of  for  Sabbath-schools. 

6.  That  you  recommend  to  the  conferences  and  the  people  in  general  the  adoption  of 
.some  regular  system  of  proportionate  giving,  based  on  income. 

7.  That  each  conference  be  asked  to  pay  to  the  Parent  Board  one-half  of  the  funds 
collected  for  missions  general,  and  that  the  Board  be  authorized  to  make  appropriation  to 
any  conference  when  it  is  needed,  whether  it  be  a  mission  conference  or  not. 

C.   H.   KlR.\COFK. 

TREASURER'S  QUADRENNIAL  REPORT— 1889-93. 

RECI5IPTS— GENERAL  FtJND. 

From   Branch  Treasurers S  6921  67 

From  Cash  Collections  and  Donations 4203  94 

From  salary  of  Secretary  and  Treasurer  returned  . 30000 

$11425  61 

Special  Fund  Receipts 1643  ,S3 


Total  Receipts  for  all  purposes 513069  44 

Total  Receipts  for  Home  Missions,  (estimated) 30000  00 

EXPKNnrriTRES. 

General  Fund  expended |i  1533  96 

Special  Fiind  expended 637  40 

$12171  36 

Balance  in  Treasury— Special  iMiud 89S  08 

Due  Special  I'und  from  Oeneral  F"und 107  18 

Due  General  Fund  from  Branch  Treasurer,  White  River  Conference        $83  09 

Due  General  Fund  from  Branch  Treasurer  of  Kansas  Conference  .  13  00 

$  98  90 

Indclitedness  of  f.cneral  iMind g  09 

Kl'.I'OKT  IN  Din'AII,. 

oi;ner.\l  EfNn  rix-iupts  from  hr.^nch  treasi'rkr.s. 

1890 J  1116  55 

1891 1706  55 

1892  1^66  68 

1893 2230  71 

$  6920  67 


UNITED  BRETHREN  IN  CHRIST.  15 

FROM  CASH  COLLECTIONS  BY  SECRE:TARY. 

1890 $   844  02 

1891 1963  88 

1892 1386  20 

1S93 999  84 


SALARY    RETURNED. 


I0I2    18 


ARKANSAS  VALLEY  CONFERENCE. 


189I $      200  00 

1892 200  00 

1893 200  00 


CALIFORNIA  CONFERENCE. 

189I $   100  00 

1892 200  00 

1893 200  00 


ELKHORN  CONFERENCE. 
1892 I      200  00 


NORTH  MICHIGAN  CONFERENCE. 


i»9i 
1802 


200  00 


$  200  00 
250  00 
250  00 
300  00 


I  4203  94 


189I : $       100  00 

1892 100  00 

1893 JQQ   00 

J     300  00 

Total  General  Fund 311425  94 

SPECIAL  FUND  RECEIPTS. 

FOR  FOREIGN  MISSIONS. 

1890 I      27  00 

1891 7  50 

1892 .  9  80 


$  1056  48 
Special  Fund  for  other  purposes 587  35 

Total  Special  Fund $  1643  83 

Total  Receipts  for  All  Purposes $13069  44 

EXPENDITURES. 

PACIFIC  COAST  DISTRICT. 

1890 I    500  00 

1891 500   00 

1892 500  00 

1893 500  00 


$   2000   00 


I      600  00 


$      500   00 


$     400  00 


$  1000  00 


10  GENERAL  CONFERENCE 


ONTAKIO  CONFERKNCE. 

1890 S   50  00 

1891 200  00 

1892 300  00 

1893  . 300  00 


OUICCON  C0NI"1:KI:NCK— PHILOMATH. 


1892 

■S93 


WALLA  WALLA  CONKICUKNCK. 


189I 
1892 
1893 


WEST  KANSAS  CONFERENCE. 

1S9I $   176  50 

1S92 165  00 

1893 200  00 


s 

50  00 
so  00 

$ 

100  00 

$ 

100  00 
100  00 
188  66 
200  00 

c 

cSS  Af. 

WEST  NEBRASKA  CONFERENCE. 


1891 $      230   00 

1892 50   00 


SOUTH  MISSOURI  CONFF.RENCE. 

189I 


50  00 


1892 

1893 


1890 

I89I , 
1892 

1893 


1 891 
1892 
1893 


798  22 
1000  00 
1000  00 
1000  00 


TR.WELINU.   EX1'F;NSES. 


I11-,CK1'.R  I.ICCTURES. 


$ 

163 

05 

161 

98 

115 

78 

120 

91 

$ 

233 

13 

23 

70 

22 

49 

Total  Appropriatiou.s $  6960  16 

Special  I'mid  not  included  in  Appropriations 258  34 


$  379S  22 


5    .sC"  72 


$    279  32 


UNITED  BRETHREN  IN  CHRIST.  17 

Missionary  Certificate 72  oo 

Soliciting  Cards 20  00 

Printing 65  75 

Stationery,  Postage,  Expressage,  etc 67  19 

Woman's  Missionary  Association  Deposit 53  65 

Lawyer's  Fees 35  00 

Total  Expenditures $12171  36 

C.  H.  KiRACOFE,  Treasurer. 

QUADRENNIAL  REPORT  OF  CHURCH  ERECTION  FUNDS. 

RECEIPTS  FROM  CONFERENCES. 

1890 $       22  92 

1891 75  20 

1892 113  16 

1893 121  33 

I    332  61 

Special  Donation  from  Phebe  Trogdon 200  00 

Total  Receipts %    532  5i 

PAID  OUT — ON  LOAN. 

To  First  Church  in  Eldorado,  Kansas $     150  00 

To  First  Church  in  in  Mankato,  Kansas 150  00 

$    300  00 

Balance  in  Treasury,  Mayi,  1893 %    232  61 

C.  H.  KiRACOFE,    Treasurer. 

These  reports  were  approved  and  their  recommendations  referred  to 
the  appropriate  committees. 

Bishop  H.  Floyd,  president  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  of  the  Printing 
Establishment,  read  the  following  report,  which  was  referred  to  the 
committee  on  Publishing  Interests: 

REPORT  OF  THE  BOARD  OF  TRUSTEES  OF  THE  PRINTING 
ESTABLISHMENT. 
Dp;.\r  Brethren: — It  is  hardly  necessary  to  say,  in  reporting  the  condition  of  our 
publishing  department,  that  for  the  last  four  years  our  Printing  Establishment  and  its 
accumulated  stock  and  funds  have  been  in  the  hands  of  those  who  have  gone  out  from  the 
church.  It  occurred,  while  we  were  known  to  assert  our  rights  in  the  civil  courts,  that 
rival  trustees  (so-called)  brought  suit  to  quiet  their  title  to  the  establishment.  That  suit, 
after  various  stages,  known  to  you  all,  is  now  on  the  docket  of  the  Supreue  Court  of  Ohio, 
and  may  not  be  reached  for  trial  for  a  year  or  two  to  come.  Recent  decisions  in  the  Su- 
preme Court  of  Oregon  and  in  the  United  States  Circuit  Court  at  Toledo,  in  our  favor,  give 
good  hope  that  justice  may  at  last  be  awarded  in  our  Printing  Establishment  case,  so  that 
our  rightful  property  shall  be  restored  to  us. 

'  In  June,  1SS9,  charge  of  the  Christian  Conservator  via.%  transferred  from  the  Constitu- 
tional Association  to  your  Publishing  Board,  and  adopted  as  the  organ  of  the  church  for 
the  time  being.  At  the  time  of  its  transfer  its  nominal  circulation  was  about  3,800,  and  its 
paying  subscription  about  3,000.  Its  circulation  began  to  increase  under  the  system  of 
payment  of  subscription  strictly  in  advance,  and  in  t^o  years  the  actual  paying  subscrip- 
tion ran  up  to  more  than  5,500,  and  its  occasional  circulation  to  5,800.  For  the  past  year  the 
average  circulation  has  been  about  5,000.    This  number  not  only  speaks  well  as  to 'a  large 


18  GENERAL  CONFERENCE. 

membership  in  the  church,  but  speaks  in  praise  of  that  membership.  It  proclaims  their 
loyalty  and  taste  for  reading.  Till  our  former  periodical  comes  into  our  possession,  it  be- 
hooves us  to  look  well  to  the  improvement  and  circulation  of  the  Chrisiian  Conservator.  It  is 
a  great  factor  in  the  promotion  of  our  cau.se. 

In  April,  1S91,  our  Agent  prepared  to  meet  a  great  demand  of  our  people  for  Sabbath- 
school  literature.  Accordingly,  under  very  advantageous  arrangements  as  to  cost,  there 
appeared  the /.^-iw//  (Jiiarterly,\.\\c  Precious  Gems,  Cheerful  Hours,  and  Our  Wee  Ones, 
and  from  the  very  first  they  all  paid  the  expenses  of  publication,  and  even  the  fir.st  year 
yielded  a  small  profit. 

The  Chrisiian  ConseiTaior  ha.s  neveT  paid  expen.ses  without  help  from  the  profits  of 
other  departments  and  generous  donations  from  our  people.  The  last  year  there  was  a 
deficit  of  $1,350*  which  was,  however,  fully  provided  for  by  donations  and  profits  on  other 
departments.  Our  publishing  department  has  now  assets  over  all  liabilities  to  the  amount 
of  $1,200,  one  thousaud  of  this  being  a  fund  to  keep  on  hands  a  perpetual  stock  of  books  for 
sale.  We  need  a  much  larger  fund  of  this  kind.  Altogether,  under  the  circumstances  of 
the  establishment,  and  the  condition  of  the  church,  the  success  of  the  publishing  depart- 
ment is  very  gratifying,  and  has  exceeded  our  most  sanguine  expectations. 

We  respectfully  submit  to  this  Conference  and  the  new  board,  .soon  to  be  elected,  the 
following  recommendations: 

1.  That  the  Christian  Conservatoi  be  changed  from  quarto  form  to  magazine  form  of 
twelve  or  sixteeti  pages,  and  that  you  consider  the  propriety  of  its  enlargement,  if  this  can 
be  safely  done;  and  in  this  connection  you  also  consider  the  propriety  of  increasing  the 
price  of  the  paper. 

2.  It  may  be  well  to  consider  the  propriety  of  employing  four  contributing  editors,  at 
a  small  cost,  to  assist  the  editor  of  the  Conservator. 

3.  That  you  consider  the  feasibility  and  desirableness  of  allowing  a  page  of  the  Con  set - 
vator  to  the  missionary  department  of  the  church,  a  page  to  the  Woman's  Missionary 
Association,  and  a  page  to  the  educational  department  of  our  denomination,  these  depart- 
ments to  provide  in  whole  or  in  part  for  the  expense  of  furnishing  those  pages,  and  all  to 
be  under  the  careful  and  intelligent  supervision  and  control  of  the  editor  of  the  paper. 

May  the  blessing  of  God  be  upon  the  future  editors  aud  publishers  and  upon  all  the 
interests  of  our  publishing  department.  Respectfully  submitted.     IIalleck  Floyd. 

Aaron  Zehring. 
Z.  McNew. 

G.  T.  HORINE. 
C.  H.   KiRACOFE. 

C.  S.  Miller. 
J.  A.  Brown. 

Trustees. 

A  motion  prevailed  fixing  10:00  o'clock  A.  M.,  Monday,  May  22nd,  as 
the  hour  to  hoar  the  report  from  the  Woman's  Missionary  Association. 
After  prayer  by  J.  Hoffhines,  of  Scioto,  Conference  adjourned. 

THIRD  DAY— MORNING  SESSION. 

Saturday,  May  20,  1893. 

At  8:00  A.  M.,  I.  M.  Tharp,  of  White  River,  opened  the  devo- 
tional services  by  reading  a  Scripture  lesson  and  leading  in  prayer,  after 
which  Bishop  H.  Floyd  conducted  the  devotional  meeting,  which  con- 
tinued one  hour.  B.  G.  Hulfer,  N.  R.  Luce,  W.  H.  Davis,  J.  W.  Stewart, 
J.  K.* Nelson,  li.  J.  Moody  and  P.  Beck  led  in  prayer,  songs  intervening. 


UNITED  BRETHREN  IN  CHRIST.  19 

At  9:00  o'clock  Bishop  H.  Floyd,  in  the  chair,  called  the  house  to 
order,  and  the  business  of  the  day  was  entered  upon. 

The  roll  was  called ;  the  minutes  of  previous  day  were  read,  correct- 
ed and  approved. 

The  roll  of  conferences  was  called. 

H.  H.  Williams,  of  East  Des  Moines,  made  statements  relating  to  his 
conference. 

W.  A.  Oler,  of  White  River,  presented  a  petition  in  reference  to 
Hartsville  College,  which  was  referred  to  the  committee  on  Education. 

On  motion  the  rule  requiring  the  calling  of  the  roll  of  conferences 
each  morning,  for  presentation  of  petitions,  was  suspended. 

J.  K.  Alwood,  of  committee.  No.  6,  on  Revision  of  Discipline,  read 
their  report,  which  was  amended  and  adopted. 

The  Ways  and  Means  committee  made  a  statement  that  they  had 
not  as  yet  been  able  to  secure  a  short-hand  reporter,  and  by  a  vote  of  the 
conference,  they  were  allowed  till  Mondaj^  noon  to  secure  one. 

W.  Dillon  presented  a  I'esolution  relating  to  the  Columbian  Exposi- 
tion, which  was  referred  to  the  committee  on  the  State  of  the  Church 
and  Country. 

A  motion,  that  miscellaneous  business  take  the  place  of  the  calling 
of  the  roll  of  conferences,  for  petitions,  was  referred  to  the  committee 
on  Rules  of  Order. 

W.  Dillon,  Secretary  of  the  General  Sabbath-School  Board,  read  the 
following  report,  which  was  approved. 

REPORT  OF  THE  SABBATH-SCHOOL  BOARD. 

To  the  Bishops  and  Members  of  the  General  Conference  of  iSg;^. 

Respected  Brethren: — We  found  the  funds  and  facilities  in  the  hands  of  those  who 
passed  over  onto  the  new  constitution  and  confession  of  faith.  We  entered  on  our  work 
with  no  money  in  the  treasury,  the  Sundaj'-school  literature  diverted  from  the  church, 
with  only  good  will  and  good  intentions  among  the  the  residue  that  remained  with  the 
church,  and  the  smiles  of  an  approving  God.  The  Publishing  Agent  made  arrangements 
by  which  three  Sundaj'-school  papers  have  been  published,  the  Piecious  Gems,  Cheerful 
Hours  and.  Our  H'ee  Ones,  which  have  had  a  commendable  circulation,  and  have  met  the 
wants  of  our  Sunday-.schools  as  to  papers.  We  have  held  th»e  meetings  of  our  Board  annu- 
ally as  required,  and  in  the  situation  have  done  what  we  could.  The  report  of  the  treasurer 
of  the  Sabbath-School  Board  for  the  Quadrennium  ending  May  i8,  1893,  is  as  follows: 

receipts. 

Auglaize  1SS9-90 f    8  91 

1890-91 20  46 

1S91-92 II  18 

1892-93 8  25 

f    48  80 

Arkansas  Valley  1S92-93 50 

Central  Illinois  1892-93 i  00 

East  Ohio  1890-91 $    3  00 

"       189J-92 6  00 

"        "       1892-93 5  00 

$     14  00 


20  GENERAL  CONFERENCE. 

Kaiisas,'^i892-93 5  o° 

Maryland,  1891-92 I400 

1892-93 5  00 


Michigan,  1889-90 I    2  5° 

1890-91 12  50 

"            1891-92 14  18 

1892-93 16  00 

North  Michigan,   1SS9-90 $    7  01 

ib90-9i 9  50 

1891-92 8  50 

1892-93 7  00 

North  Ohio,  1889-90 $  10  48 

1890-91 16  08 

"      1891-92 23  21 

1892-93 28  29 

»  

Oregon,  1890-91 I    5  5° 

"            1891-92 5  70 

"            1892-93 6  60 

Ontario,  1889-90 I    5  85 

1890-91 7  52 

"             1891-92 4  75 

"             1892-93 6  46 

Pennsylvania,  1890-91 |  10  25 

1891-92 13  25 

1892-93 15  00 

Rock  River,  1890-91 *. $  10  50 

"       1891-92 5  25 


I    9  00 


$  45  18 


$  32  01 


$  78  06 


17  80 


$  24  58 


$  38  50 


I  15  75 

Scioto,  1890-9; $    8  25 

"       1891-92 7  67 

$  16  19 

St.  Joseph,  1892-93 $    1  75 

White  River,  1889-90 $    4  52 

"  "        1890-91 5  00 

"  "       1891-92  .    .    .' 4  00 

"  "       1892-93 4  00 


I  17  52 

Sandusky,  1892-93 2  90 

Unknown,  1889-90 4  00 

Total  Receipts I372  54 

Total  Kxpeuditures |  24  44 

Cash  Balance $348  10 


UNITED  BRETHREN  IN  CHRIST.  21 

RECOMMENDATION. 

We  recommend  that  the  Sabbath-School  Board  be  continued  as  heretofore  under  the 
auspices  of  the  General  Conference.  I.  M.  Tharp. 

W.  H.  Clay. 

C.  H.  KiRACOFE. 

W.  Dillon. 

S.  Iv.  Livingston. 

H.  Floyd. 

Conference  adjourned.     Prayer  by  W.  S.  Titus. 

THIRD  DAY— AFTERNOON  SESSION. 

Conference  convened  at  2:00  P.  m;    Bishop  H.  Floyd  in  the  chair. 

A.  G.  Johnson,  of  St.  Joseph  Conference,  conducted  the  devotional 
exercises. 

>/  The  committee  on  Rules  of  Order  reported  on  the  special  motion  re- 
ferred to  them,  recommending  that  the  words  "miscellaneous  business" 
be  substituted  for  item  1,  Article  III,  which  was  adopted. 

J.  K.  Alwood  presented  a  paper  relating  to  the  works  of  Thomas  Up- 
ham,  in  the  courses  of  reading,  which  was  referred  to  committee  No  8, 
on  Revision. 

The  committee  on  State  of  the  Church  and  Country  made  a  partial 
report,  pertaining  to  Sunday  opening,  which  was  amended  and  adopted 
as  follows : 

To  the  Managers  nf  the  World's  Fair. 

The  General  Conference  of  the  Church  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ,  assembled  in 
Hudson,  Indiana,  representing  upwards  of  fifty  thousand  communicants,  most  earnestly 
protest  against  opening  the  Fair  grounds  upon  the  Christian  Sabbath;  and  believe  that  in 
respecting  the  Sabbath  day  you  will  promote  the  be.st  interests  of  the  institution  which  you 
represent,  by  bringing  the  best  elements  of  this  great  Christian  nation  into  closer  sympathy 
with  you.  We  will  advise  our  people  not  to  attend  the_Exposition,  if  the  gates  are  open  on 
the  Sabbath  day.  I.  M.  Tharp. 

A.  WORMAN. 

A.  G. Johnson. 
John  McBride. 
J.  M.  Johnson. 

A  motion  prevailed,  instructing  the  presiding  bishop  and  secretary 
to  affix  their  official  signatures  thereto  and  forward  the  same  to  the 
Directory  of  the  World's  Fair. 

The  secretary  of  the  Board  of  Education,  N.  D.  Wolfard,  read  his 
report  and  the  recommendations  of  the  Board.  The  recommendations 
were  referred  to  the  committee  on  Education  and  committee  No.  9,  on 
Revision.     The  report  was  approved.  '  The  report  is  as  follows: 

REPORT  OF  THF  BOARD  OF  EDUCATION. 
The  utility  of  the  work  required  of  this  board  seems  not  to  be  understood  by  our  mem- 
bership.    Other  interests  have  claimed  their  attention  and' support  during  the  pa.st  quad- 
rennium.     The  contributions  have  been  but  little  more  than  sufficient  to  defray  the  ex- 
penses of  the  meetings  required  by  the  constitution. 


22  GENERAL  CONFERENCE. 

Some  plan  should  be  adopted  by  which  a  general  interest  and  co-operation  oi  the 
church  may  be  secured  in  this  intensely  important  work.  The  failure  of  our  church  to 
plant  and  sustain  itself  in  the  cities  is  not  due  so  much  to  our  God-honored  reform  principles 
as  to  our  want  of  intellectually  trained,  well  informed  ministers  to  compete  with  such  in 
other  churches. 

We  must  deal  with  the  world  as  we  find  it.  If  we  would  fill  creditably  the  mission  God 
would  have  us  fill,  we  must  prepare  to  meet  the  just  demands  of  those  for  whom  we  labor. 
We  have  promising  young-  men  and  women  who  are  anxious  to  prepare  to  meet  this  de- 
mand, but  they  lack  means.  We  can  not  supply  them.  Other  churches  do,  and  they  are 
lost  to  us.  Shall  we  continue  to  live  at  this  poor  dying  rate,  or  shall  we  awaken  to  the 
.situation,  s<ipply  the  means,  save  this  talent,  bless  the  church,  and  honor  God  yet  more? 

Hartsville  College,  in*[ndiana,  and  Philomath  College,  in  Oregon,  have  remained  true 
to  the  church,  and  have  been  quite  prosperous,  considering  the  circum.stances,  Hartsville 
College  has  faithfully  adhered  to  the  principles  of  the  church.  It  has  had  ver>'  much  to 
contend  with,  but  by  Divine  favor,  through  the  benevolence  of  .sisters  Snyder,  Shisler  and 
others,  it  has  gloriously  survived  the  wreck  of  Liberalism.  During  the  quadrennium,  un- 
der the  most  adver.se  circiimstances,  its  indebtedness  has  been  materially  diminished,  its^ 
endowments  almost  doubled,  and  its  patronage  considerably  increased.  The  conferences 
now  co-operating  are:  Indiana,  White  River,  North  Ohio,  Michigan,  North  Michigan,  Scio- 
to, Auglaize.  Sandusky,  Ontario,  East  Ohio,  Erie,  Rock  River,  Upper  Waba.sh,  West  Kan.sas 
and  St.  Joseph.  The  aggregate  attendance  this  year  was  eighty-six.  The  average  attend- 
ance is  sixty.  The  condition  is  better  at  present  in  every  respect  than  in  18S9.  The  pros- 
pects for  attendance  in  the  future  are  fair. 

The  interest  of  pa,stors  and  members  generally  is  not  what  it  should  be.  As  the  other 
general  interests  of  the  church  are  sustained,  so  the  college  interests  should  be  vigorously 
cared  for  through  the  pastors.  There  were  five  graduates  this  year.  The  religious  interest 
of  the  college  is  good.  The  faculty  consi.sts  of  five  instructors.  The  approximate  value  of 
the  property  is  $25,000;  the  endowment,  about  $13,000.  The  financial  outlook  is  not  flat- 
tering. 

PHILOMATH  COLLEGE. 

After  this  year  the  Washington  and  California  conferences  will  co-operate  with  the 
Oregon  conference  in  the  support  of  the  school.  The  aggregate  attendance,  not  counting 
in  two  departments  is  29S.  We  have  had  eleven  terms  of  school  in  the  four  years.  These 
figures  compare  favorably  with  the  reports  of  the  former  quadrennium,  when  we  consider 
the  division  of  the  church.  The  outlook  for  the  future  attendance  is  flattering.  The  rhin- 
isters  and  membership  are  more  interested  in  the  .school,  and  will,  as  soon  as  the  last  deci- 
sion of  the  court  is  given,  .step  oiit  boldly  to  the  support  of  the  .school.  Religfious  interest 
is  verj-  good. 

Graduates,  four;  instructors,  four;  property  valued  at  above  $20,000;  endowment  can  not 
be  given  exactly,  since  the  Liberals  have  had  charge  for  some  time — it  was  over  $10,000. 
The  prospects  are  now  that  we  will  have  control  soon.  Finances  seem  to  be  very  good  un- 
der the  circumstances. 

In  regard  to  the  board  of  managers,  a  word  of  commendation  is  due.  Never  were  a 
number  of  men  more  true  to  a  trust;  and  they  have  stood  by  the  .school  in  straightened 
circumstances  with  Christian  integrity  not  often  .seen.  They  have  borne  financial  burdens 
that  less  determined  me.i  would  have  shirked.  When  fire  destroyed  our  building  they 
from  the  ruins  took  courage,  and  followed  the  Bishop's  suggestion,  "Out  of  the  ashes  let 
another  Phoenix  rise,"  and  builded  yet  more  beautiful  and  useful. 

The  publishing  interest  of  the  United  Brethren  Church  has  met  with  fair  .success.  At 
the  time  of  division  this  interest  was  no  longer  a  financial  drain  on  the  church,  but  a 
source  of  income.  This  was  brought  about  by  a  general  board  clothed  with  sufficient 
power  for  effectual  work.  The  interest  was  so  controlled  as  to  concentrate  the  patronage 
and  support  of  the  entire  church.  The  educational  interest  has  failed,  in  a  measure,  for 
want  of  concentration.  The  church  has  endeavored  to  establish  and  operate  a  score  of  in- 
stitutions, all  poorly  equipcd,  meagerly  endowed  and  heavily  encumbered  with  debt.     Had 


UNITED  BRETHREN  IN  CHRIST.  23 

the  entire  interest  been  iu  the  hands  of  a  general  board,  with  sufficient  executive  power 
to  control,  a  smaller  number  of  institutions  might  have  been  securely  established,  well 
endowed,  and  made  self-sustaining. 

The  present  is  a  favorable  time  for  the  church  to  adopt  a  system  of  educational  work, 
eliminating  the  defects  of  the  course  pursued  during  the  past,  and  availing  itself  of  the 
advantages  that  skill,  experience  and  observation  furnish.  For  this  purpose  the  Board  of 
Education  recommends  that  the  Constitution  of  the  Board  of  Education  be  so  amended  as 
to  augment  its  powers  and  direct  its  labors  so  as  to  secure  the  best  results. 

The  chair  announced  that  Bishop  M.  Wrig-ht,  C.  H.  Kiracofe  and 
J.  Hoffhines  wei^e  appointed  a  committee  on  Memoirs, 

Committee  No.  4,  on  Revision,  made  a  report,  which,  after  some 
amendment,  was  adopted. 

Rev.  G.  W.  Walker,  of  the  Lutheran  Church,  was  introduced  to  the 
conference  and  invited  to  a  seat  within  the  bar. 

Committee  No.    7,  on  Revision,  made  a  partial  report,  embracing, 
pages  101  to  113  inclusive,  of  the  Discipline.     The  report  was  adopted. 

Committee  No.  2,  on  Revision,  submitted  a  report,  which  was  con- 
sidered item  by  item.  Pending  the  consideration  of  item  14,  page  39, 
conference  adjourned,  after  prayer  by  W.  Miller,  of  Auglaii^e. 

FOURTH  DAY— MORNING  SESSION. 
Monday,  May  22,  1893. 

Conference  convened  for  devotion  at  8:00  A.  M. 

Bishop  H.  J.  Becker  called  the  conference  to  order  and  J.  Kenoyer, 
of  Walla  Walla,  read  the  Scripture  lesson  and  offered  the  opening  pray- 
er, after  which  Bishop  Becker  conducted  the  meeting.  D.  O.  Tussing. 
J.  McBride  and  W.  Dillon  offered  prayer.  -The  remainder  of  the  hour 
was  given  to  a  testimony  meeting,  which  was  participated  in  by  J.  K. 
Alwood,  Bishop  H.  J.  Becker,  C.  H.  Kiracofe,  J.  T.  Allaman,  Bishop  H. 
Floyd,  Bishop  H.  T.  Barnaby  and  W.  Dillon. 

Promptly  at  9:00  o'clock  the  business  of  the  conference  was  entered 
upon.  Bishop  H.  J.  Becker  in  the  chair. 

The  roll  was  called ;  the  minutes  of  Saturday's  sessions  were  read, 
corrected  and  approved. 

H.  O.  Kerns  presented  a  paper  pertaining  to  the  "Pacific  Coast  Dis- 
trict, which  was  referred  to  the  committee  on  Superintendency. 

The  special  order  of  the  day— the  hearing  of  the  report  from  the 
Woman's  Missionary  Association — having  arrived,  the  secretary  of  the 
Association  not  being  able  to  be  present,  the  special  order  was  postponed. 

A  committee  to  arrange  for  a  picture  of  the  conference  was,  by  order 
of  the  conference,  appointed.  Committee  :  A.  B.  Lilly,  J.  E.  Bodine  and 
N.  D.  Wolfard. 

The  committee  on  Ways  and  Means  reported  that  they  had  not  yet 


24  GENERAL  CONFERENCE 

been  able  to  procure  a  short-hand  reporter  and  were  excused  from  any 
further  effort  to  procure  one. 

Rev.  O.  E.  Wilcox,  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  was  introduced  and  invited 
to  a  seat  within  the  bar. 

The  Conference  requested  the  Publishing  Agent  to  provide  immedi- 
ately for  long  hand  reporters. 

Item  14,  of  the  report  of  committee  No.  2,  on  Revision,  (page  39  of 
Discipline)  was  again  taken  up  and  after  some  discussion,  was  recom- 
mitted. 

The  chair  announced  as  a  committee  on  Superintendency,  W.  Miller, 
A.  W.  Geeslin  and  J.  K.  Alwood. 

Committee  No.  5,  on  Revision,  submitted  their  report.  It  was 
moved  and  carried  to  adopt  the  report  item  by  item.  Pending  the  adop- 
tion of  item  2,  Conference  adjourned.     Prayer  by  H.  O.  Kerns. 

FOURTH  DAY— AFTERNOON  SESSION. 

Conference  convened  at  2:00  o'clock;  Bishop  H.  J.  Becker  in  the 
chair. 

S.  W.  Kern,  of  Iowa,  conducted  the  devotions. 

On  resuming  business  the  Publishing  Agent  announced  that  he  had 
secured  Rev.  N.  D.  Wolfard,  of  Fairmount,  Indiana,  Misses  M.  M.  Titus, 
of  Charlotte,  Michigan,  Ida  Wood,  of  Alma,  Michigan,  and  Eva  Kciter, 
of  Chambersburg,  Pennsylvania,  as  reporters. 

The  report  of  committee  No.  5  was  again  taken  up.  Pending  the 
adoption  of  item  first,  of  Section  V,  of  Discipline,  the  report  was  recom- 
mitted. 

Committee  No.  8,  on  Revision,  (pages  116  to  12o  of  Discipline)  re- 
ported, which  report  was  considered  item  by  item. 

The  first  part  of  this  report  recommended  several  changes  of  minor 
importance,  which  were  discussed,  and  some  of  them  adopted  and  some 
rejected.  According  to  the  report,  Qpham's  "Interior  Life'  was  taken 
from  the  second  year's  course  of  reading  and  Lee's  "'Natural  Theology" 
was  inserted  instead,  the  former  being  out  of  print.  AUaman  inquired 
if  the  book  substituted  covered  the  same  ground  as  the  one  taken  out. 
Kiracofe  replied  that  it  did  not.  Pierson's  ''Crisis  of  Missions"  was 
substituted  for  Harris'  "Great  Commission,"  it  being  considered  a  more 
practical  treatise  for  our  people  generally.  The  repoi-t  recommended  to 
strike  out  "Doctrines  Relating  to  Man"  under  "Hiljle  Doctrines"  in 
second  year's  course  of  reading. 

Bishop  Floyd.  I  think  it  would  take  out  an  impor-tant  part  of  tlie 
required  doctrines. 

Bishop  Wright.  The  book  treats  of  required  docti-ines.  Why 
strike  it  out  ? 


UNITED  BRETHREN  IN  CHRIST.  25 

S.  Austin.  What  seems  to  me  to  be  wrong-  in  the  words  is  their 
indefiniteness. 

A.  WORMAN.     It  seems  to  me  to  be  clear  as  it  is. 

J.  K.  Alwood.  I  think  it  was  the  intention  to  say.  in  as  few  words 
as  possible,  that  classes  should  be  examined  in  these  doctrines,  instead 
of  giving  the  names  of  all  the  books  teaching  them. 

C.  H.  KiRACOFE.  We  should  indicate  what  doctrines  are  to  be 
taught. 

W.  Miller  I  favor  striking  out  the  words  on  account  of  their  in- 
definiteness. 

J.  M.  Johnson  favored  retaining  the  words. 

P.  Beck.  If  anyone  on  a  committee  does  not  know  what  is  meant 
he  is  unfit  for  the  position. 

Z.  McNew  opposed  striking  out. 

The  item  failed. 

The  report  recommended  to  substitute  Broadus'  Homiletics  instead 
of  Etter's  "Prea'cher  and  His  Sermon."     Agreed  to  without  discussion. 

A  motion  was  made  to  place  the  "Preacher  and  His  Sermon" 
among  the  books  recommended.     The  motion  was  lost. 

M.  Wright  proposed  a  slight  change  ii^  Section  IV,  page  125,  which 
on  motion  of  C.  H.  Kiracofe,  prevailed. 

The  report  as  amended  was  adopted. 

At  4:30  Judge  Taft's  decision  in  the  Toledo  case  was  called  for,  and 
extracts  therefrom  were  read  by  Bishop  M.  Wright.  "Praise  God  from 
Whom   All   Blessings   Plow"   was   sung  and   Bishop  H.  Floyd  offered 

prayer  as  follows: 

* 

We  thank  thee,  O  Father,  for  the  institution  of  the  church  of  Jesus  Christ.  We  thank 
thee  for  thy  gracious  providence  thou  hast  exercised  over  thy  people — thy  Zion;  and  we 
thank  thee  that  while  we  have  waited  and  trusted  and  looked  for  deliverance  from  the 
powers  of  evil,  we  have  at  last  realized  it.  We  thank  thee  for  the  vindication  of  righteous- 
ness. We  thank  thee  that  thou  art  influencing  the  courts  in  this  struggle  through  which 
we  are  pa.ssing  to  give  these  decisions.  And  we  pray,  Lord,  that  thou  wilt  help  us  to  re- 
ceive in  humility  of  heart  these  messages  that  come  to  cheer  and  comfort  us. 

Oh  ma3'  we  receive  a  new  baptism  of  the  Holy  Gho.st.  We  pray  that  we  may  go  forth 
to  do  better  work  for'God  than  we  have  done  before.  Strengthen  us  along  the  line,  and 
may  the  cloud  that  has  so  long  hung  over  our  church  be  dispelled.  May  her  power  and 
influence  over  the  world  be  largely  increased.  May  her  former  glory  return.  Make  bare 
thine  arm.  Show  the  world  that  the  church  is  immutable.  O  Lord,  give  us  moral  cour- 
age to  hold  up  a  standard  for  the  people.  O  Lord,  bless  our  mistaken  brethren;  may  they 
see  the  right  and  try  to  repair  the  wrongs.  May  there  be  an  emotion  filling  every  breast 
as  it  filled  the  hearts  of  the  fathers,  when  they  said,  "Let  us  be  brethren."  Lord,  bless  this 
Conference.  Give  us  a  double  portion  of  thy  spirit.  Open  a  greater  door  of  usefulness  to 
us,  and  may  we  come  up  to  the  day  of  coronation  and  "crown  thee  Lord  of  All."  Bless  us, 
guide  us  and  lead  us  into  all  truth,  and  we  will  give  the  all  thee  glory  forever  and  ever; 
amen. 


26  GENERAL  CONFERENCE. 

After  remarks  by  each  of  the  bishops  and  S.  Austin  the  conference 
adjourned.     Benediction  by  Bishop  Barnaby. 

FIFTH  D^U'— MORNING  SESSION. 
Tuesday,  May  23,  1893. 

Conference  convened  at  8:00  o'clock  ;  Bishop  Wright  in  the  chair. 

After  an  hour's  devotional  services,  led  by  S.  Austin,  the  secretary 
called  the  roll.     The  minutes  were  read,  corrected  and  approved. 

A  letter  from  Rev.  G.  W.  Masters,  of  Eureka  Springs,  Arkansas, 
South  Missouri  conference,  was  read  by  the  secretary,  in  which  he  re- 
gretted that  he  could  not  be  present  as  a  delegate.  Referred  to  the 
committee  on  Correspondence. 

C.  B.  Sherk  moved  that  Thursday,  10:00  A.  M.  be  the  time  fixed  for 
election  of  general  officers.  C.  H.  Kiracofe  moved  to  amend  by  saying 
Friday  instead  of  Thursday.  The  amendment  prevailed.  The  motion 
as  amended  prevailed. 

Committee  No.  5,  on  Revision,  re-submitted  its  report  pertaining  to 
the  subject  of  divorce.  C.  H.  Kiracofe  moved  that  the  word  ''mutually," 
between  "sacred"  and  "and,"  in  the  amendment,  be  stricken  out.  Car- 
ried. 

H.  T.  Barnaby.  I  thinli  there  would  be  some  diflficulty  in  carrying 
out  item  5th.  How  is  a  minister  to  know  whether  divorced  persons  have 
scriptural  ground  for  such  divorce  or  not  ?  This  will  make  it  necessary 
to  refuse  to  marry  divorced  persons. 

J.  M.  Johnson.  It  forbids  a  minister  from  marrying  such  persons, 
knowing  the  divorce  not  to  be  on  scriptural  ground. 

H.  Floyd.     I  see  no  difficulty  since  the  section  does  not  define  itself. 

C.  ^L.  Wood  gave  an  illustration  of  the  case  and  said,  "I  am  opposed 
to  this  whole  matter.  Public  sentiment  is  wonderfully  loose  on  this 
question.     I  am  in  favor  of  retaining  the  word  "adultery." 

E.  C.  Wyatt.  I  am  of  Brother  Wood's  opinion.  As  a  church  we 
want  to  stand  solid  on  this  question.  I  think  God's  word  should  be  hon- 
ored. If  necessary  proof  can  not  be  obtained,  perhaps  it  was  Christ's 
intention  that  it  should  be  hard  to  get  a  divorce. 

C.  H.  Kiracofe.  I  have  not  given  this  subject  special  examination, 
but  I  regard  it  as  important  and  can  not  vote  for  it  unless  the  Scripture 
be  given  to  prove  it  right. 

W.  Dillon.  There  are  three  views,  (1.)  That  of  the  Roman  Cath- 
olic church,  that  there  is  no  cause  for  granting  a  divorce.  (2.)  That 
adultery  is  the  only  cause.  (3.)  That  there  is  another  Bible  reason  than 
the  above,  which  is  my  view. 

Bishop  Wrioht.  I  will  say  first,  that  repoi-t  gives  only  Scriptural 
grounds  and  if  thei-e  be  but  one,  it  is  covered  by  the  report.     But  in 


UNITED  BRETHREN  IN  CHRIST.  27 

regard  to  my  talk  yesterday,  there  may  be  fornicators,  and  all  the  world 
knows  there  are  such,  but  they  can  not  be  proved.  We  all  know  this  is 
true.     Let  me  cite  a  case: 

A  young  girl  married  a  young  and  worthless  fellow  with  whom  she 
could  scarcely  live,  but  she  did  live  with  him  just  as  long  as  he  would 
live  with  her.  But  in  the  course  of  two  or  three  years  he  left  her,  and 
she  knew  not  whither  he  went.  In  the  course  of  a  few  years,  just  about 
the  time  she  was  old  enough  to  think  of  marrying,  she  sees  a  young 
man  whom  she  loves  and  who  will  be  a  true  kind  husband  to  her.  She 
has  not  the  money  to  look  up  her  good  for  nothing  husband,  and 
if  she  had,  perhaps  he  is  guilty  of  fornication— every  body  believed  he 
was— yet  it  can  not  be  proved.  Now  is  that  beautiful  young  girl  to  be 
doomed  to  widowhood  all  her  life  ?  No,  I  do  not  feel  one  bit  condemned 
that  I  solemnized  the  marriage  of  that  young  girl  to  the  man  she  loved. 
I  shall  repent  of  it  when  I  get  to  the  throne  of  God  and  find  it  was  wrong, 
but  not  before.  I  repeat  what  I  said  yesterday,  I  will  not  stand  second 
to  any  man  in  defending  the  sacred  marriage  relation.  I  do  not  speak 
on  ray  own  account  or  for  any  friend  of  mine,  but  I  speak  before  God. 
This  marriag-e  relation  is  a  sacred  relation.  Do  you  think  Joseph  was 
wrong  in  trying  to  shield  Mary  from  the  gaze  and  scorn  of  the  world 
when  he  thought  she  had  fallen  into  temptation  V  No,  I  honor  Joseph 
for  it,  and  if  I  stand  by  Joseph  in  regard  to  a  case  like  this,  I  will  stand 
in  a  very  good  position.     I  honor  Joseph  in  my  heart. 

J.  Kenoyer.  I  have  known  parties  believed  to  be  guilty,  but  when 
divorces  were  granted,  they  were  on  other  grounds. 

D.  B.  Sherk.  I  desire  thorough*  discussion.  Some  will  not  move 
here  from  Canada  on  account  of  your  loose  divorce  laws.  I  am  not  in 
favor  of  the  amendment. 

Bishop  Becker.  We  are  not  ready  to  vote.  There  are  couples 
that  God  has  not  joined  together.  The  Scriptural  law  is  "What  God 
hath  joined  together,"  etc.  If  God  has  not  joined  them  how  can  they 
really  be  married  ?  There  are  some  cases  of  compulsion.  There  may 
be  a  young  woman  who  is  compelled  to  marry  a  man  she  never  has  loved 
and  never  can  love.  In  the  course  of  six  nlbnths  or  a  year  he  leaves  that 
young  wife.  Now  she  has,  perhaps,  fifty  or  sixty  years  of  life  before  her. 
Is  it  the  will  of  God  that  she  be  doomed  to  celibacy  all  these  years  V  Is 
it  the  will  of  him  who  said,  "It  is  not  good  for  man  to  live  alone,"  to 
blight  that  young  girl's  life  and  bring  upon  her  a  stain  which  would 
cling  to  her  for  life  ?  No,  I  can  not  think  it  is  his  will.  I  know  it  is  not. 
Can  there  not  be  some  words  added  or  some  amendment  to  "Scriptural 
grounds,"  to  make  it  more  definite  and  also  to  embrace  in  it  these  vari- 
ous cases  of  compulsion  ?  Can  there  not  be  something  to  cover  such 
cases  ? 

W,  Dillon.     The  object  in  changing  it  from  the  form  it  now  has  in 


28  GENERAL  CONFERENCE. 

the  Discipline  is  to  meet  just  the  want  that  Bishop  Becker  stated  in  his 
talk.  He  certainly  could  vote  for  this,  for  the  object  of  it  is  to  cover 
just  the  ground  he  pleads  for.  In  the  Presbyterian  church  it  is  claimed 
there  are  more  reasons  for  divorce  than  adultery,  and  I  am  sure  there 
is  not  looseness  in  their  church  on  this.  [Reads  I  Cor.  7  :  8.]  If  there  is 
only  one  cause  given  for  divorce  in  the  Bible,  then  the  ground  is  wholly 
covered.  If  there  is  more  than  one,  I  think  "Scriptural  reasons"  covers 
the  whole  ground  and  should  be  adopted. 

C.  L.  Wood.  I  know  I  have  the  highest  esteem  for  our  worthy 
bishops.  I  beg  you  to  hear  me  a  few  minutes  in  reference  to  a  remark 
made  by  Brother  Sherk.  Hundreds  of  persons  come  here  to  get  divorce, 
because  they  can  get  it  for  any  cause  by  paying  ten  dollars.  I  know 
there  are  cases  that  deserve  our  sympathy,  such  as  have  been  referred 
to,  but  let  us  aim  our  blows  at  the  liquor  trafic  that  causes  so  much  suf- 
fering.    I  desire  to  record  my  vote  No. 

C.  H.  KiRACOFE.  I  had  not  expected  to  speak  on  this.  Law  is  one 
thing,  sympathy  another.  Law  is  for  the  bettering  of  society  and  will 
be  severe  upon  some,  but,  for  the  good  of  the  whole  we  must  have  law. 
Doctor  Fisher  was  on  board  a  vessel  in  quarantine  and  was  not  permitted 
to  land.  He  sent  letters  asking  permission  to  land,  but  it  was  not  granted. 
The  few  suflfered  for  the  many.  We  let  down  the  flood-gates  if  we  loosen 
the  law. 

J.  HOFFHINES.  This  amendment  that  proposes  ''scriptural  grounds" 
is  too  loose  for  me.  When  a  court  grants  a  divorce,  it  does  not  say 
whether  it  is  on  scriptural  grounds  or  not,  and  where  a  couple  is  to  be 
married,  who  is  to  decide  ?  Why  the  preacher  ?  He  may  consider  sev- 
eral reasons  sci-iptural,  and  thus  it  makes  it  very  indifferent.  'I  think  it 
is  too  loose  on  this  subject. 

W.  H.  Clay.  I  think  for  irrepairable  desertion  divorce  should  be 
granted,  but  I  do  not  want  looseness. 

J.  K.  Alwood.  If  we  must  loosen  up  on  this  question  let  us  wait  four 
years.  We  are  legislating  for  the  ages  to  come;  let  us  stick  to  our 
moorings. 

Wm.  Miller  read  the  wor/is  of  Jesus,  which,  he  said,  forever  settled 
the  question  with  him. 

Bishop  Becker.  I  want  to  ask  Brother  Miller  a  question.  He 
says  that  if  a  man  put  away  his  wife,  but  what  if  she  runs  away  and  he 
has  nothing  to  do  with  putting  her  away,  what  then  ?    [Applause.] 

S.  Austin.  If  the  Bible  speaks  clearly  on  any  point,  a  thousand 
laws  will  not  change  the  moral  aspect  of  the  question. 

Bishop  Wright  explained  how  this  law  came  into  the  Discii)line. 
He  thought  it  imprjicti cable— so  strong  that  it  became  weak— and  urged 
the  conference  to  substitute  the  practical  for  the  impractical. 

The  motion  was  lost  on  a  rising  vote. 


UNITED  BRETHREN  IN  CHRIST.  29 

C,  H.  Kiracofe  moved  to  change  item  3,  page  88,  by  striking  out  "for 
other  causes  than  adultery"  and  substitute  '■''when  the  cause  of  adultery 
does  not  exist."    The  amendment  prevailed. 

On  motion  Conference  adjourned  with  prayer  by  J.  Riley 

FIFTH  DAY— A.FTERNOON  SESSION. 

Conference  was  called  to  order  by  Bishop  Wright ;  C.  Bender  led 
the  devotions. 

A.  Worman  read  a  resolution,  providing  for  trustees  to  hold  prop- 
erty of  the  church  not  otherwise  provided  for.  It  was  referred  to  com- 
mittee on  Revision  No.  9. 

The  publishing  agent  made  the  following  report : 

PUBIylSHING  AGENT'S  REPORT. 

To  the  General  Conference. 

Dear  Brethren: — As  you  are  again  assembled  in  regular  quadrennial  session,  it  is 
due  that  one  to  whom  you,  four  years  ago,  committed  tlie  important  interests  of  your  pub- 
lishing department,  should  now  report  to  you  his  work  and  the  condition  of  this  very 
important  department.  It  is  well  to  say  right  here  that,  in  accordance  with  an  understand- 
ing with  your  session  of  four  years  ago,  I  have  devoted  ouly  a  part  of  my  time  to  this  work. 
The  Board  of  Trustees  so  arranged  that  I  was  supposed  to  give  one-fifth  of  my  time  to  our 
publications,  and  another  fifth  to  the  other  interests  of  the  department — two-fifths  alto- 
gether— and  my  salry  was  proportioned  to  this  arrangement.  Charge  of  the  publishing 
department  has  added  greatly  to  my  responsibility,  and  has  greatly  increased  my  labors, 
at  times  taxing  my  powers  of  endurance  and  trenching  on  my  duties  as  superintendent  of 
a  district.  But  a  kind  providence  has  greatly  blessed  me  in  health  and  capacity  to  endure 
labor.  Yet  it  is  very  gratifyiug  to  me  now  to  lay  down  this  important  trust.  It  will  not  be 
deemed  amiss  to  say,  that  for  some  of  the  plans  and  measures  which  have  greatly  contributed 
to  the  success  of  our  periodicals,  I  have  been  indebted  to  those  whose  names  may  not  occur 
to  you,  and  who  neither  expected  nor  received  any  pecuniary  compensation.  I  am  also 
greatly  indebted  to  the  Board  of  Trustees  for  their  counsel  and  help  in  carrying  forward  our 
work. 

At  the  session  of  the  Board  of  Trustees  in  June,  1889,  the  Christian  Cotiseivator  was 
adopted  as  the  chief  organ  of  the  church,  pending  the  recovery  of  our  Printing  Establish- 
ment. It  came  into  our  hauds  with  a  valuable  list  of  subscribers  and  a  small  debt,  the  sub- 
scription list  richly  compensating  for  the  indebtedness,  the  most  of  which  has  been  since 
paid.  The  paying  subscription  was  at  that  time  about  3,000.  It  increased  in  two  years  to 
fully  5,500,  and  some  issues  reached  as  high  as  5,800.  With  the  old  debt  mostly  paid  oflf, 
and  the  new  obligations  all  met  or  provided  for,  the  department  has  now  net  assets  amount- 
ing to  $1,023.37,  the  most  of  this  being  a  special  fund  to  provide  a  perpetual  stock  of  books 
for  sale.     This  book  fund  needs  to  be  greatly  increased. 

As  there  was  so  great  demand  in  the  church  for  Sabbath-school  literature  of  our  own, 
we  carefully  devised  Sabbath-school  periodicals,  and  in  April,  1S91,  began  their  publica- 
tion. These  periodicals  are  the  Lesson  Quarterly,  Precious  Gems,  Cheerful  Hours,  and  Our 
IVee  Ones.  AU  these  publications  were  received  most  cordially  by  our  Sabbath-schools. 
From  the  very  first  these  papers  paid  expenses,  and  they  have  since  afforded  several  hund- 
red dollars  profit  to  the  publishing  department.  Their  circulation  is  increasing  very  rapid- 
ly. Without  a  very  advantageous  arrangement  which  we  made,  the  Sabbath-school  litera- 
ture would  have  involved  considerable  indebtedness,  instead  of  a  nice  profit. 

We  have  also  added  a  small  book-trade  to  the  business  of  the  department;  but  as  our 
patrons  so  far  are  mostly  preachers  to  whom  we  furnish  books  almost  at  cost,  the  profits 


30  GENERAL  CONFERENCE. 

to  the  department  are  very  small.  The  supply  of  books  however,  is  doing  the  church  much 
good,  and  ought  to  be  much  enlarged. 

It  will  occur  to  the  observing  mind,  that  the  increase  of  the  circulation  of  the  Conserva- 
tor, the  publication  of  four  Sabbath-school  periodicals,  and  our  book  trade — to  say  nothing 
of  our  legal  controversy — has  more  than  doubled  the  labors  of  your  Agent  and  his  book- 
keeper since  the  beginning  of  this  quadrennium.  A  competent,  skillful,  and  rapidly-work- 
ing book-keeper  became  a  necessity,  and  entirely  unexpected  to  me,  a  former  agent  of  the 
CoHseivator.  solicited  a  book-keeper  for  me,  and  found  him  in  my  own  family — though  his 
residence  and  business  was  then  more  than  a  thousand  miles  away.  Since  he  came  to  my 
help,  he  has  been,  not  in  name,  but  in  fact  assistant  agent.  Since  he  was  employed  our 
work  and  business  has  been  doubled. 

The  publishing  department  has  been  successful  beyond  our  most  ardent  hope.  I  have 
been  careful  to  avoid  debts.  I  have  tried  to  run  the  establishment  cheaply,  but  with  gen- 
erositj'.  The  success  is  mainly  due  to  my  helpers  in  the  publishing  office,  and  especially  to 
our  ministers  throughout  the  church,  who,  in  faithful  effort  and  real  self-.sacrifice,  have 
proved  worthy  of  great  praise.  They  certainly  rank  as  among  the  best  agents  in  the  world. 
The  Lord  bless  them. 

My  financial  exhibit  for  the  quadrennium  is  as  follows: 

CASH  ACCOUNT. 

RECEIPTS. 

From  the  former  Publishing  Agent $    349  51 

1S89-90    $  6096  83 

1890-91 6473  79 

1891-^2  9286  95 

1892-93 8742  71 

$30949  79 

EXPENDITURES. 

1889-90 6446  34 

1890-91 6007   57 

1891-92 1 8864  99 

1892-93 8991    33 

$30310   23 

Cash  balance  on  hand  May  1,1893 $    63956 

ASSETS. 

Cash  on  hand $    639  56 

Books  in  stock 175  00 

Furniture,  type,  etc 30  00 

Bills  collectable 178  81 

-* $  1023  37 

CIRCULATION  OF  PERIODICALS. 

1892.  1893. 

Christian  Conservator 5.250  4,600 

Precious  Gems 3i5oo  4,500 

Cherful  Hours 3<5oo  4,500 

Our  Wee  Ones • 4,900  5,300 

Quarterlies 12,900  16,000 

Total  Circulation  of  all  Periodicals  . 30,050  34,900 

Respectfully  submitted. 

Milton  Wright. 


UNITED  BRETHREN  IN  CHRIST.  31 

On  motion  of  H.  Floyd  the  i-eport  was  approved. 

B.  G.  Huber  read  the  report  of  committee  No.  1,  on  Revision,  which 
was  approved  throughout. 

On  motion  of  C  H.  Kiracofe,  W.  Trace  was  granted  leav^  of  absence 
after  to-day's  session,  because  of  the  sickness  of  his  wife. 

Revision  committee  No.  11  reported.  The  report  was  discussed  by 
B.  W.  Mason,  C.  W.  Backus  and  M.  Wright,  and  was  not  concurred  in. 

The  form  of  bequest,  as  found  on  page  166  of  Discipline,  was  refer- 
red to  committee  No.  11,  and  C.  H.  Kiracofe  was  added  to  the  committee. 

The  following  report  was  made  by  the  committee  on  Superintendency. 

SUPERINTENDENCY. 

We  your  coiiiniittee  on  Superintendency  submit  the  following  report: 

1.  That  there  be  five  Bishop's  Districts. 

2.  That  one  of  these  shall  be  known  as  the  Pacific  Coast  District,  for  which  one  bishop 
shall  be  especially  elected,  who  shall  be  required  to  reside  on  his  district. 

3.  That  there  be  four  bishops  elected  for  the  reinaiui'ng  four  districts  east  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains.  J.  K.  Alwood. 

A.  W.  Geeslin. 
Wm.  Miller. 

The  report  was  considered  item  by  item. 

A.  Worman  moved  to  amend  Item  1  by  saying  "four''  instead  of 
''five." 

C.  H.  Kiracofe.  I  do  not  doubt  the  motives  of  any  of  the  members 
of  this  Conference.  I  do  not  accuse  any  of  having  an  ax  to  grind.  But 
I  do  say  if  this  Cofnerence  decides  to  have  five  bishops,  our  people  will 
be  disappointed.  I  think  we  have  enough  bishops.  I  love  our  bishops, 
but  I  love  our  church  more.  I  love  the  church  more  than  any  member 
in  it,  and  I  think  for  our  church  four  bishops  are  enough. 

A.  W.  Geeslin.  We  considered  the-work  carefully.  Our  forces 
are  scattered.     The  work  of  reconstruction  has  fully  come. 

Chair.  I  have  no  claims  on  this  Conference.  Please  do  not  elec- 
tioneer. 

W.  Dillon.  I  had  thought  of  having  only  four  bishops,  but  I  now 
favor  five  for  we  can  not  think  of  giving  up  any  of  our  bishops. 

C.  L.  Wood.     I  think  we  need  only  three. 

J.  E.  Ham.     We  do  not  need  five  nor  are  we  able  to  support  them. 

Wm.  Miller.  As  a  member  of  the  committee  I  voted  for  this,  be- 
cause I  thought  the  next  four  years  will  have  more  to  do  than  the  past 
quadrennium. 

W.  S.  Titus.     It  would  not  harmonize  with  the  feelings  of  our  peo- 
ple to  have  more  than  three  bishops  east  of  the  Rocky  Mountains. 
The  amendment  carried. 

J.  M.  Johnson  led  in  prayer  and  Conference  adjourned. 


32  GENERAL  CONFERENCE. 

SIXTH  DAY— MORNING  SESSION. 
Wednesday,  May  24,  1898. 

After  an  hour's  devotional  exercises,  led  by  C.  L.  Wood,  the  Confer- 
ence was  called  to  order  at  9:00  o'clock  by  Bishop  Barnaby. 

The  roll  was  called  and  the  minutes  read  and  approved. 

C.  H.  Kiracofe  moved  to  reconsider  the  vote  fixing  10:00  o'clock 
Friday,  as  the  time  of  electing  general  officers. 

S.  Austin,  C.  L.  Wood,  J.  Kenoyer  and  J.  K.  Alwood  opposed  the 
change,  as  the  word  had  gone  out  and  we  probably  would  not  be  ready 
before  Friday. 

A.  Worman,  Wm.  Dillon  and  M.  Wright  favored  the  change,  to 
give  the  new  boards  time  for  meeting. 

The  motion  prevailed. 

After  several  amendments  were  offered  and  thoroughly  discussed,  it 
was  agreed  on  motion  to  tix  the  time  to  elect  the  general  officers,  at  two 
o'clock  P.  M.,  Thursday,  May  25th. 

C.  H.  Kiracofe  moved  that  a  committee  of  five,  on  Nominations,  be 
appointed  to  nominate  twice  as  many  as  are  required,  from  whom  to 
elect  the  genei-al  boards.     Carried. 

The  publishing  agent  stated  that  he  could  not  give  a  report  of  the  le- 
gal funds  as  his  book  was  in  Dayton ;  and  he  wished  to  know  whether 
the  Conference  would  accept  an  estimate. 

Wm.  Dillon.  The  report  on  Legal  Funds  was  examined  by  Dr.  Kir- 
acofe and  myself.  It  is  all  straight  and  regular,  and  I  think  we  should 
hear  the  estimate. 

The  Conference  consented. 

An  estimated  report  was  then  made. 

M.  Wright.  After  litigation  arose,  I  had  charge  of  the  expenses. 
I  believe  in  some  cases  more  expense  has  been  incurred  than  necessary, 
but  not  more  than  was  believed  to  be  necessary  at  the  time.  The  attor- 
neys for  the  Liberals  have  just  put  in  a  bill  for  $15,000.  Our  expenses 
have  been  very  modei'ate  in  comparison  with  the  other  side.  As  to  out- 
side cases,  I  have  laboi'ed  hard.  It  will  not  be  so  burdensome  as  it  has 
been.  I  think  we  have  not  only  saved  a  thousand  doUai's,  but  many 
thousands. 

Wm.  Dillon  said  he  thought  the  Conference  should  express  its 
thanks  to  Bishop  Wright  for  his  discretion  in  this  work,  and  he  offered 
the  following  resolution,  which  was  adopted  : 

Rt'Si)Ivi'd,  That  the  thanks  of  this  Cieneral  Conference  are  due  and  are  hereby  expressed 
to  Bi.shop  M.  Wright,  for  his  work  in  securing  funds  for  legal  expenses,  for  discreet  man- 
agement and  economy,  and  we  are  grateful  for  the  success  that  has  attended  the.se  efforts. 

The  committee  on  Conference  Picture  stated  that  arrangements  had 
been  made  with  G.  W.  Oberlin,  the  artist,  of  Hudson,  Indiana,  to  furnish 


UNITED  BRETHREN  IN  CHRIST.  33 

cabinet  photographs  of  individuals,  at  $1.50  per  dozen,  and  ten  cents  lor 
each  additional ;  cabinet  groups  of  Conference  at  ten  cents  each  ;  groups, 
10x12  inches,  at  fifty  cents  each  ;  groups,  14x17  inches,  at  $1.00  each  and 
groups  16x20  inches,  at  $2.25  each. 

The  report  of  the  committee  on  Superintendency.  item  2,  was  taken 
up. 

Bishop  Becker.  The  Pacific  coast  desire  tl)eir  district  to  remain  as 
it  is  and  that  they  have  a  bishop  of  their  own.  They  pledge  themselves 
to  build  a  bishops  par,sonage,  centrally  located.  The  territoi-y  is  large; 
they  need  a  resident  bishop.  If  an  eastern  man  <^o  there  and  give  up 
every  eastei'n  manner,  he  can  succeed.  But  a  bishop  residing  on  the 
coast  can  succeed  and  I  speak  in  behalf  of  the  co:;st  delegation,  give  them 
a  resident  bishop. 

J.  Kenoyer  spoke  of  the  extent  and  vast  resources  of  their  territory, 
the  opening  and  possibilities  for  our  church  there,  and  the  emergency 
and  urgent  demands  for  a  resident  bishop. 

Bishop  Wright.  Will  the  brethren  pay  the  salary  of  a  resident 
bishop  V 

J.  Kenoyer.  Give  us  the  money  we  raise  and  we  will  pay  oui-  own 
bishop. 

H.  O.  Kerns.  We  feel  that  we  must  have  a  resident  bishop.  If 
we  go  home  without  our  request  being  granted  many  will  be  discouraged. 

Beck  painted  the  Coast  in  glowing  colors  and  predicted  for  it  a  most 
glorious  future,  and  urged  the  Conference  to  take  advantage  of  the  pres- 
ent opportunity  to  establish  the  church  there. 

A.  Bennett.  Give  us  a  resident  bishop  and  the  expense  will  not 
be  increased.  We  want' him  when  we  need  him.  Give  us  a  man  from 
the  east  if  you  can  :  if  not,  we  will  accept  the  appointment  of  one  already 
there. 

C.  H.  Kiracofe.  I  am  unsettled  as  to  what  is  best :  but  I  think  by 
all  means  whoever  is  appointed  should  live  there,  or  abandon  the  district 
and  let  the  bishops  alternate  there. 

Wm.  Dillon  thought  the  opinions  of  these  delegates,  the  petitions 
from  the  three  conferences,  and  the  opinion  of  Bishop  Becker  had  great 
weight,  that  we  are  going  to  have  undisputed  possession  there  in  a 
short  time,  and  he  favored  sending  them- a  resident  bishop. 

A.  Worman  thought  the  request  should  be  granted,  and  that  three 
bishops  could  do  the  work  in  the  east. 

Bishop  Wright  commended  the  services  of  Bishop  Becker  very 
highly,  but  asked,  "Will  it  justify  us  nmc  to  give  them  a  bishopV" 

Bishop  Becker  said  he  did  not  expect  to  be  returned  to  the  coast  as 
bishop.  He  thought  the  Board  would  not  have  to  pay  the  expense  after 
the  first  year.  He  also  stated  that  he  had  refunded  to  the  church  every 
dollar  of  the  money  paid  out  to  him. 


34  GENERAL  CONFERENCE. 

The  item  was  adopted. 

Item  three  was  read.     B.  G.  Hubcr  moved  to  amend  so  as  to  i-ead 
"three"  districts  instead  of  ''four." 
The  amendment  prevailed. 
The  item  as  amended  was  adopted. 
Adjourned  :i1  ll:-l.").  with  prayer  by  .J.  J.  Mari^illeth. 

AFTERNOON  SESSION. 

.Vftcr  devotions  led  by  J.  M.  Smiley,  letters  were  read  from  absent 
delegates,  D.  W.  Baker  and  .J.  Wilkison,  and  referred  to  the  committee 
on  Correspondence. 

D.  B.  Sherk  i)resented  a  resolution,  si<>ned  by  himself  and  William 
Dillon,  that  eacli  annual  conferenite  appoint  an  historian  to  collect  facts 
concerning  the  church,  etc.  Referred  to  the  committee  on  State  of  the 
Church. 

Committee  No.  3  on  Revision  reported.  The  report  \<>^as  considered 
item  by  item,  and  adopted. 

A  motion  to  refer  Section  5,  pages  o7,  -58  of  book  of  Discipline  to 
Committee  No.  3  on  Revision  carried.  ' 

C.  H.  Kiracofe  read  the  report  on  Memoirs,  which  wms  adopted 
without  discussion. 

MEMOIRS. 

Rev.  Lewis  Davis,  D.  D.  was  Isorti  and  reared  in  Botetourt,  now  Craig  County,  Vir- 
ginia. He  was  reared  under  the  influence  af  a  pious  mother,  to  whom  are  attributed  many 
of  the  religious  principles  which  characterized  his  subsequent  life.  Although  he  became 
in  after  life  a  ripe  scholar,  his  early  education  was  very  limited. 

At  about  the  age  of  nineteen  or  twenty  he  became  a  Christian,  under  the  influence  of 
the  Methodists,  but  did  not  connect  himself  with  the  church  until  his  twenty-fourth  year, 
when  he,  for  the  first  time,  came  under  the  influence  of  the  United  Brethren  and  joined 
them  becau.se  of  their  humble  simplicity  and  their  opposition  to  secret  societies. 

After  spending  a  short  time  in  West  Virginia,  he  came  to  southern  Ohio,  and  in  183S, 
at  the  age  of  twenty-four,  he  was  licensed  to  preach,  and  in  i.S3g  joined  the  Scioto  Confer- 
ence, of  which  he  continued  a  mo.st  useful  member  until  his  death.  He  traveled  eight  years 
as  an  itinerant  minister,  during  which  time,  by  tlie  closest  application  to  study,  he  became 
known  as  a  scholar,  and  when  the  time  came  to  inaugurate  the  educatioual  work  of 
the  church,  he  was  cho,sen  for  the  arduous  undertaking,  and  from  that  time  until  a  few 
years  before  his  death  he  was  the  recognized  leader  of  our  educational  forces,  and  although 
for  eight  years,  from  1S57  to  1865,  he  filled  the  office  of  bishop,  his  connection  with  the 
educational  work  was  not  broken.  To  him,  more  than  to  any  other  man,  is  due  the  honor 
of  overcoming  the  opposition  to  educational  institutions  manifest  in  the  early  history  of 
the  church,  and  all  the  ;  uccess  which  has  attended  her  educational  enterprises. 

})r.  Davis  was  a  king  among  men — large,  well  proportioned,  remarkably  neat  and  dig- 
nified in  jjerson,  social,  genial,  and  sometimes  jovial,  lie  was  eminently  a  companionable 
man;  a  .safe  and  wise  counselor,  scrupulously  exact  and  methodical  in  business,  lofty  and 
steadfast  in  purpose.  As  a  preacher,  plain,  logical,  always  impressive,  and  frequently  irre- 
.sistable  in  power.  As  preacher,  college  agent,  college  president,  as  bishop,  as  senior  pro- 
fessior  in  the  Theological  >Seminary,  as  protfs.sor  emeritus,  and  as  a  member  of  General 
Conference,  Dr.  L.  Davis  was  a  pioneer,  a  prince,  and  a  leader.  To  no  other  man  in  her 
history  does  this  church  owe  more  than  to  Dr.  Davis;  therefore. 


UNITED  BRETHREN  IN  CHRIST.  35 

Resoli'cd,     I.     That  in  his  death,  our  loss  is  great  and  seemingly  irreparalile. 

2.  That  we  will  ever  cherish  and  honor  his  memory,  and  seek  to  perpetuate  and  de- 
velop the  principles  iu  the  propagation  of  which  he  spent  his  life. 

3.  That  we  set  apart  the  second  Thursday  evening  of  this  conference  session  to  a  me- 
morial meeting,  to  be  addressed  by  three  members  chosen  by  the  Conference. 

Milton  Wright, 
j.  hoffhines. 
c.  h.  kiracofe. 

Thursday  night  was  set  apart  for  memorial  services,  and  Bishop  M. 
Wright,  W.  Dillon,  and  C.  H.  Kiracofe  were  selected  as  speakers. 

The  committee  on  Publishing  Interests  reported  tlirough  the  secre- 
tary, C.  L.  Wood: 

PUBLISHING  INTKRESTS. 
We  appreciate  the  embarrassed  condition  in  which  our  publishing  intere.sts  were  left 
after  the  division  in  1SS9,  and  have  great  reason  to  rejoice  that  these  interests  have  been  as 
successfully  managed  as  they  have.     We  compliment  the  management  of  the.se  interests 
on  the  large  circulation  of  the  Christian  Conservator  and  Sabbath-school  literature. 

We  recommend  that  the  Cliristtaii  Conservator  be  changed  from  its  present  form  to 
magazine  form,  without  increase  of  sub.scriptiou  price. 

We  concur  in  the  reconunendation  of  the  trustees:  namely,  that  the  educational  and 
missionary  departments  of  the  church  be  given  a  page  each  in  the  paper;  and  we  further 
recommend  that  a  column  be  given  to  the  study  of  the  Sabbath-school  lesson  from  week  to 
week. 

Resolved,  That  we  do  elect  one  editor  for  the  Christian  Conservatoi\  and  that  the  Pub- 
lishing Board  be  empowered  to  emploj'  .such  editorial  assistance  as  may  be  reqiured  upon 
the  Conservator  or  ,Sabbath-.school  literature. 

We  further  recommend  that  the  Publishing  Board,  as  soon  as  practicable,  have  com- 
piled and  ptiblished  a  suitable  hymnal  for  the  church,  and  that  said  publication  be  in  word 
edition  and  edition  with  notes.     Respepectfully  submitted.  W.  S.  Titus. 

J.  K.  Nelson. 
I.  M.  Tharp. 
N.  R.  Luce. 
D.  B.  Sherk. 
J.  W.  Stewart. 
C.  L.  Wood. 

A  motion  to  adopt  item  by  item  was  adopted.  Pending  the  consid- 
eration of  the  first  item,  Rev.  S.  B.  Shaw,  of  the  M.  E.  Church,  was  in- 
troduced to  the  conference,  and  spoke  as  follows: 

"I  am  g'lad  to  be  here  and  to  see  the  good  spirit  manifested.  I  am 
happily  disappointed  in  finding  so  much  humility  among  the  ministry. 
God  be  with  you." 

Item  1  was  adopted. 

Item  2  was  was  read.  Wm.  Dillon  asked  what  was  meant  by  "mag- 
azine form." 

W.  S.  Titus  answered,  '"Something  like  the  CV'ioswe." 

Alleman  asked,  '■''Will  it  improve  the  capacity  of  the  paper."' 

M.  Wright  answered,  "It  would  net  improve  the  capacity  of  the 
paoer  materially,  but  it  would  be  more  accessible  and  more  valuaVjle  to 
the  cburch.     We  can  make  about  twelve  pages.     Some  of  these  depart- 


36  CENERAL  CONFERENCE. 

ment.s  may  helj)  us  .so  we  may  make  more.  We  may  be  able  to  make  it 
sixteen  pages. 

Bishop  Becker  asked,  "'Does  not  this  resolution  bind  the  Publishing 
Board  so  that  they  can  not  advance  the  price?" 

Chair.     If  we  adopt  that  it  becomes  a  law  of  the  church. 

Bishop  Wright  thought  not. 

C.  H.  KiRACOFE.  I  think  this  is  just  right  as  it  is.  It  is  a  recom- 
mendation to  the  Board  and  not  a  law. 

Wm.  Dillon.  I  think  when  we  adopt  this  it  is  binding  on  the 
Boai'd.  1  think  if  you  make  it  a  sixteen  page  papei*.  you  should  allow 
the  subscription  price  to  be  increased  at  their  discretion. 

.J.  K.  Alwood.  It  is  news  to  me  that  a  motion  passed  by  this  body 
does  not  become  a  law  of  the  church.  If  the  Board  is  to  lix  the  price, 
why  should  we  say  any  thing  about  it.     I  move  it  be  stricken  out. 

J.  Kenoyer.  I  think  we  should  adopt  the  paper.  We  do  not  order- 
them  to  do  it,  but  we  recommend  them.  , 

M.  Wright.  I  think  Bro.  Kenoyer  has  the  right  idea.  This  has 
only  the  force  of  a  recomniend;ition.  I  should  not  like  to  bo  on  a  board 
with  iron  rules.  It  is  very  important  that  the  conference  speak  its 
opinion,  that  it  may  go  out  to  the  church. 

Wm.  Dillon.  This  report  is  all  right  as  it  is  and  we  are  wasting 
time. 

A.  Worman  thought  the  recommendation  was  not  to  the  Board  but 
to  the  Conference.     Bisho])  Becker  said  substantially  the  same. 

Adjoiu-ned  at  it'M)  o'clock.     E.  Atkinson  lead  in  px-ayer. 

SF.VENTH  DAY— MORNING  SESSION. 

Thursday,  May  2;"),  im^. 

"  C.  H.  Kiracofe  conducted  devotional  services  for  one  hour,  after 
which,  at  !>:()0  o'clock,  Bishop  H.  Floyd  called  the  house  to  order.  The 
roll  was  called:  the  minutes  were  read,  corrected  and  ajiproved. 

The  chair  announced  A.  B.  Powell,  Wm.TMiller,  C.  H.  Kiracofe.  J. 
K.  Nelson  and  A.  W.  Geeslin,  as  the  committee  on  Nominations. 

C.  H.  Kiracofe  moved  to  authorize  the  committee  on  Editing  the 
Discipline  to  make  verbal  changes,  so  as  to  con'ect  and  harmonize  the 
language.     Carried. 

A.  Worman  read  a  resolution  in  rercn^nce  to  a  constitution  for  Y.  P. 
S.  C.  10.  so(!ieties,  which  was  referred  to  the  committee  on  Superinten- 
dency. 

N.  R.  Luce  announced  that  the  collection  taken  last  evening  amount- 
ed to  $!!):!.  17  in  ciish,  *22.()()  in  subscrii)tion  ;  total  ^I'lil.n. 

The  report  on  Pul)lishing  Interests  was  again  taken  up.  Item  1  was 
adopted. 


UNITED  BRETHREN  IN  CHRIST.  S7 

Bishop  Becker.  I  do  hope  that  the  report  will  not  be  adopted. 
Let  us  not  vote  to  keep  the  price  down.     Let  us  branch  out. 

D.  B.  Sherk.  I  speak  for  the  committee.  While  you  and  I  would 
have  the  paper  at  two,  or  three,  dollars,  there  are  many  in  the  church 
who  would  not.     Those  are  the  very  ones  we  desire  to  i-each. 

Wm.  Dillon.  I  want  you  to  notice  the  force  of  a  recommendation 
when  adopted.     I  think  you  ought  to  carry  this  amendment. 

C.  L.  Wood.  I  look  at  this  as  having-  the  force  of  a  recommenda- 
tion.    We  do  not  require  it. 

Item  2  was  read. 

Bishop  Wright.  I  think  this  is  quite  a  gift  to  these  various  de- 
partments, and  would  like  to  have  them  give  remuneration  in  proju)!'- 
tion  to  the  space  they  have. 

C  L.  Wood.  We  mean  to  have  them  remunerate.  It  is  so  under- 
stood. 

The  item  was  adopted. 

Item  3  was  read.  C.  H.  Kiracofe  moved  to  amend  by  striking  out, 
''We  recommend,"  and  inserting.  '"Resolved  that  we  do." 

J.  K.  Alwood.     I  do  not  see  how  that  makes  it  any  stronger. 

Bishop  Barnaby.  I  do  not  see  any  difficulty  about  this.  What 
we  ilo  we  do  not  recommend. 

Amendment  carried. 

The  item  as  amended  was  adopted. 

Item  4,  relating  to  a  Hymnal,  was  read. 

A.  W.  Geeslin.  Was  it  the  intention  of  this  report  that  this  shall 
be  published  and  sent  out  before  next  General  GonferenceV 

Chair.     I  think  it  is  to  be  left  to  the  decision  of  the  Board. 

Bishop  Wright.  There  has  been  a  great  demand  for  the  hymnal. 
It  is  a  matter  of  much  importance.  A  committee  for  this  purpose  should 
be  comj^osed  of  members  that  are  judges  of  poetry  and  of  harmony,  that 
are  of  eminent  piety.  We  want  no  shoddy  aflfair.  It  should  not  be  more 
than  half  as  large  as  Hymns  for  the  Sanctuary. 

C.  L.  Wood.  I  would  like  to  call  the  attention  of  the  house,  that 
this  carries  with  it  only  the  force  of  a  recommendation. 

The  item  was  adopted. 

W.-  H.  Clay  read  the  report  of  Committee  No.  9  on  Revision. 

Z.  McNew  moved  to  adopt  item  by  item.     Lost. 

Motion  to  adopt  as  a  whole  carried. 

D.  B.  Sherk.  Our  counties  do  not  incorporate  boards  of  trustees. 
It  will  cost  us  thousands  of  dollars,  if  this  must  be  carried  out. 

Bishop  Wright.  Courts  in  Ohio  do  not  require  our  boards  to  in- 
corporate. Indiana  does,  but  not  by  the  name  "incorporate:"  and  it 
may  cause  some  difficulty. 


38  GENERAL  CONFERENCE. 

W.  Dir.LON.  This  shows  that  we  can  not  reach  this  except  in  con- 
sideration of  the  report  item  by  item. 

W.  A.  Oler.     I  move  to  reconsider  the  vote  to  adoi>t  as  a  whole. 

Car-ried,  and  conference  proceeded  to  consider  it  item  by  item,  and 
after  amending  several  of  the  items,  adopted  it  as  amended. 

Bishop  Barnaby  moved  that  the  manner  of  electing  the  General 
Board,  as  provided  for  by  the  Committee  No.'  9.  and  the  title  by  which 
it  shall  be  known,  be  i-eferred  to  a  committee  of  three.     Carried. 

Committee:  Bishop  Barnaby,  Bishop  Becker,  and  C.  H.  Kiracofe. 

After  prayer  by  VV.  A.  Oler,  conferenc^e  adjourned. 

AFTERNOON  SESSION. 

After  devotional  services,  led  by  R.  D.  McCormack,  the  house  was 
called  to  order  by  Bishop  Floyd. 

By  request  of  Bishop  Barnaby,  the  special  order  for  the  hour,  viz:  the 
election  of  general  officers,  was  postponed  to  hear  the  report  of  the 
special  committee  appointed  before  noon. 

Bishop  Barnaby  read  the  report,  which  was  adopted.  The  special 
order  was  then  taken  up. 

D.  B.  Sherk  moved  that  we  elect  a  bishop  for  the  Coast  district  first. 
The  motion  prevailed. 

The  vote  by  ballot  was  taken  and  resulted  as  follows: 

VOTK  FOR  BISHOP— PACIFIC  DISTRICT. 

H.  J.  Becker ' 37 

Wm.  Dillou     .    .    .  ■ 16 

H.  ly.  Barclay i 

J.  K.  Alwood 2 

H.  Floyd I 

Whole  number  of  votes  cast,  57.     H.  J.  Becker  was  elected. 

Bishop  Becker  thanked  the  conference  for  the  large  vote,  and  ask'ed 
the  Chair  to  read  his  resignation. 

The  confei'ence  again  cast  thciir  Inillots  for  bishoi)  '>f  the  Pacific; 
Coast,  which  resulted  as  follows: 

Wm.  Dillon 43 

Wm.  Miller 4 

H.  h.  Barclay 3 

J.  K.  Alwoorl 3 

W.  H.  Clay 2 

H.  Floyd I 

Wm.  Dillon,  having  received  a  majority  of  all  the  votes  cast,  was 
elected. 

The  balloting  f()i'  throe  l)isho])s  for  the  districts  east  of  the  Rocky 
Mountains  resulted  as  follows: 


UNITED  BRETHREN  IN  CHRIST.  39 

VOTE  FOR  BISHOPS. 

H.  Floyd 56 

M.  Wrighi 52 

H.  T.  Barnaby 49 

H.  J.  Becker ■ 8 

J.  K.  Alwood 3 

Wm.  Miller i 

C.  H.  Kiracofe i 

J.  k;  Nelson I 

M.  Wright,  H.  Floyd,  H.  T.  Barnaby,  each  having  received  a  ma- 
jority of  all  the  votes  cast,  were  declared  elected.  Upon  motion  their 
election  way  made  unanimous. 

The  vote  for  editor  resulted  as  follows: 

VOTE  FOR  EDITOR. 

C.  H.  Kiracofe 46 

H.  J.  Becker n 

C.  h.  Wood II 

B.  G.  Huber i 

M.  F.  Keiter i 

C.  H.  Kiracofe,  having  received  a  majority  of  all  votes  cast,  was 
declared  elected  editor  of  our  church  paper. 

Wm.  Dillon  moved  to  suspend  the  order  of  election,  and  elect  Mis- 
sionary Secretary.  The  motion  prevailed  by  a  vote  of  more  than  two- 
thirds  of  the  members. 

The  vote  for  Missionary  Secretary  was  as  follows: 

VOTE  FOR  MISSIONARY  SECRETARY. 

H.  J.  Becker 51 

B.  G.  Huber 3 

M.  M.  Titus - 2 

Wm.  Miller 2 

W.  H.  Clay 2 

Z.  McNew I 

H.  .J.  Becker  having  received  a  majority  of  all  the  votes  cast  was  de- 
clared elected. 

The  votes  for  Editor  and  Missionary  Secretary  were  made  unani- 
mous. 

C.  H.  'Kiracofe  moved  that  the  special  order  be  suspended  until  we 
can  hear  reports  that  must  be  made  before  the  Nominating  Committee 
can  complete  its  work.     Carried. 

Barnaby  moved  to  suspend  the  rules  and  instruct  the  committee  on 
Nominations  to  bring  before  the  house  three  names  from  which  to  select 
a  Publishing  Agent  who  shall  also  act  as  a  Missionary  Treasurer.  The 
motion  prevailed. 

Kiracofe  moved  that  four  more  names  be  added  to  the  committee  on 
Nominations.     Agreed  to. 


40  GENERAL  CONFERENCE 

This  chMii-  :innoui:ce(l  H.  G.  Huber,  J.  McBride.  C.  L.  Wood  and  W. 
S.  Titus,  as  additional  niein})ers  of  the  Nominatinfr  Committee. 

The  joint  report  of  eommitte  on  Education  and  Committee  No.  1).  on 
Ivcvision  was  read  by  W.  H.  Davis, 

( '.  Bender  moved  to  adopt  the  rei)ort  item  by  item.     (.';irried. 

The  report  was  adopted  with  one  amendment,  chanj^ing  the  benefi- 
ciAry  a])])ropriation  from  20  to  5  per  cent,  of  the  general  collections. 

K.  .1.  Moody  read  the  report  of  the  committee  on  Boundaries. 

S.  Austin  moved  to  adopt. 

C.  H.  Kiractofe  moved  to  amend  by  rcfering-  to  the  committee  on 
Missions  all  of  the  report  ])ertaining  to  missions.     Amendment  carried. 

J.  T.  Alleman  moved  that  the  rejiort  be  so  amended  as  to  attach 
North  Ohio  conference  to  the  Northwest  District.     Agreed  to. 

B.  G.  Hubei-  moved  to  amend  second  item  so  as  tb  say  that  the 
boundary  lines  of  Pennsylvania  conference  remain  as  they  are,  and  the 
Virginia  and  Maryland  confei'ences  be  consolidated. 

The  proposed  amendment  produced  considerable  discussion,  led  by 
B.  G.  Huber,  J.  M.  Smiley,  and  J.  K.  Nelson.  Pending  the  considera- 
tion of  the  amendment,  conference  adjournec],  after  prayer  l)y  B.  Hamp, 
of  Michigan. 

EIGHTH  DAY— MORNING  SESSION. 
Friday,  May  26,  1893. 

.1.  T.  Allaman  led  the  devotional  services.     Bishop  Becker  pi-csided. 

Roll  was  called,  and  the  journal  read,  amended  and  appi-oved. 

J.  Stahl  read  a  paper  calling  for  a  catechetical  manuel.  It  was  re- 
ferred to  the  committee  on  Publishing  Interests. 

J.  K.  Alwood  moved  that  the  Book  Committee  be  instructed  to  con- 
sider the  propriety  of  publishing  the  life  of  Dr.  Davis.     It  prevailed. 

J.  Kenoyer  moved  that  the  Book  Committee  consider  the  propriety 
of  |)repai'ing  a,  text-book  on  Theology.     The  motion  pi-evailed. 

C.  W.  Ba,chus  asked  to  be  excused  from  further  attendance  of  the 
conference.     His  request,  by  motion,  was  granted. 

(Jonside ration  of  the  report  of  the  committee  on  Boundaries  was  re- 
sumed.    The  second  item,  also  B.  G.  Huber's  amendment,  were  re-read. 
J.  M.  Johnson  offered  the  following  substitute  for  the  amendment: 

That  the  Pennsylvania,  Maryland  and  Virginia  conferences  be  united  in  one,  known 
as  the  Pennsylvania  conference;  provided  that  at  any  time  during  the  quadreuniuni,  if  the 
Hoard  of  Hislujps  tliiuk  best,  they  sliall  be  empowered  to  restore  the  present  boundary 
lines,  or  any  part  thereof 

The  substitute  prevailed,  and  the  i-eport  as  amended  was  adopted. 

C.  H.  Kiracofe  read  a  ivjioiiof  Committee  No.  11,  on  Form  of  Be- 
((uests,  which  was  adopted. 

Revision  Committee  No.  ."!  rei)orted  the  item  which  liad  been  recom- 
mitted to  them,  referring  to  classilication  of  ministers. 


UNITED  BRETHREN  IN  CHRIST.  41 

A.  Bennett  moved  its  adoption.  It  was  then  discussed  by  Kira,cofe, 
Allaman,  Barnaby,  Dillon,  Wright,  and  Floyd  ;  then,  on  motion  of  Kira- 
cofe,  it  was  recommitted. 

A.  W.  Geeslin  reported  for  Committee  No.  2,  on  Revision,  page  39, 
Sections  14  and  1;>,  which  report  was  discussed,  amended,  and  adopted. 

A.  G.  .lohnson  read  the  report  of  the  committee  on  Incorporation. 

J.  M.  Johnson  moved  the  adoption  of  the  report. 

M.  Wright.  I  think  we  are  not  ready  to  adopt.  There  is  a  .possi- 
bility that  two  of  this  number  may  remove  from  the  state  of  Ohio,  and 
it  is  necessary  that  a  majority  of  the  Board  reside  in  that  state. 

Floyd  moved  to  recommit  the  report  to  committee  on  Incorporation 
and  committee  on  Nominations.     Prevailed. 

Bishop  Barnaby  moved  to  amend  item  2,  page  70.  After  considera- 
ble discussion,  it  was  adopted  as  follows: 

The  presiding  elders  of  the  past  and  present  years,  with  an  equal  number  of  preach- 
ers who  do  not  expect  to  be  employed,  elected  by  ballot  by  the  annual  conference,  and  the 
presiding  bishop,  shall  constitute  etc.  the  Stationing  committee. 

N.  R.  Luce  road  a  partial  report  of  committee  on  Correspondence  in 
which  the  Secretary  was  instructed  to  write  a  letter  of  sympathy  to  M. 
V.  Crom ;  also  to  send  a  telegram  of  greeting  to  the  Presbyterian  Gen- 
eral Assembly,  convened  at  Washington  D.  C.     Adopted. 

Bishop  Floyd  moved  that  we  instruct  the  committee  on  Correspond- 
ence to  make  nominations  of  persons  who  shall  be  sent  as  delegates  to 
other  fraternal  bodies.     The  motion  prevailed. 

E.  J.  Moody  read  the  report  of  Committee  No.  7,  on  Revision,  pages 
101  to  110. 

Wyatt  moved  to  adopt  the  report  item  hj  item.     Carried. 

The  motion  to  adopt  the  first  item  was  lost. 

A.  G.  Johnson  moved  that  the  remainder  of  the  report  lie  on  the  ta- 
ble.    Motion  prevailed. 

Conference  adjourned. 

AE^TERNOON  SESSION. 

Prayer  by  D.  O.  Tussing. 

A.  G.  Johnson  moved  to  reconsider  the  vote  adopting  the  Boundary 
committee's  report.     Carried. 

M.  Wright  moved  to  amend.  That  all  the  territory  not  now  embrac- 
ed in  the  boundaries  of  the  districts  as  they  now  exi.st,  but  contigious 
thereto,  shall  be  embi-aced  in  said  boundaries.     Carried. 

The  report  as  amended  carried. 

Miss  M,  M.  Titus,  president  of  the  Woman's  Missionary  Association, 
read  their  report,  which  is  as  follows; 


42  GENERAL  CONFERENCE. 

REPORT  OF  THK  WOMAN'S  MISSIONARY  ASSOCIATION. 

To  the  General  Conference  of  the    United  Biethien  in   CIn isl  in  Qiiadtennial  Session  in 

Hudson,  Indiana,  assembled. 

Rkvkreni)  Kathkrs  anm)  Bkkthren: — In  the  name  of  our  comnion  Father  and  in  the 
interests  of  his  dear  Son  our  Savior,  I  bring  you  with  pleasure  Christian  greetings  from  the 
Woman's  Missionary-  Association  of  this  church.  May  grace,  peace  and  mercy  abide  with 
you  in  all  of  your  deliberations  for  the  promotion  of  Christ  and  the  ultimate  establishment 
of  his  kingdom.  We  come  to  make  to  this  body  the  fourth  quadrennial  report  of  our  or- 
ganization, and  pledge  our  allegiance  to  the  missionary  interests  of  the  church  of  our  choice. 
We  come  with  feelings  of  mingled  sorrow  and  joy;  of  sorrow,  because  of  estrangements 
and  separation  among  those  who  for  .so  many  years  stood  shoulder  to  shoulder  in  building 
up  the  various  departments  of  a  church  whose  spirituality  and  distinctive  principles  placed 
it  among  the  foremost  churches  in  moral  reform;  of  joy,  because  we  are  3'et  permitted  un- 
der our  ofKW  vine  and  fig  tree  to  continue  the  well  begun  work  of  the  early  fathers  of  this 
church,  and  later  to  lay  upon  God's  altar,  with  his  signal  approval,  woman's  consecrated 
talents  to  be  used  in  bringing  the  world  to  Christ. 

Our  circumstances  and  surroundings  differ  somewhat  from  those  of  the  last  quadren- 
nial session.  The  cloud  which  hung  heavily  over  the  General  Conference  at  York,  Penn- 
sylvania, and  which,  when  cleared  away,  left  two  churches  in  the  place  of  one,  clearly 
foreshadowed  what  was  to  come  to  the  Woman's  Missionary  Association,  and  we  come 
not  to  speak  of  uniterrupted  .success  in  our  work  from  a  human  standpoint,  but  we  come 
feeling,  however  humble  be  the  effort  or  offering,  if  done  in  the  name  of  the  dear  Master, 
he  has  the  power  to  multiply  it  many  fold.  Our  work  has  largely  been  the  gathering  up 
and  reuniting  of  the  broken  links  of  the  chain  severed  by  the  going  out  from  among  tis  of 
those  who  affiliate  with  the  new  church.  Empty  handed  and  disorganized,  sufficient  frag- 
ments were  not  collected  the  first  year  of  the  quadrennium  to  arrange  for  the  usual  annual 
session;  but  by  the  second  year  of  the  quadrennium,  branches  had  been  reorganized  and 
locals  formed,  and  the  annual  meeting  was  held  at  the  usual  time,  with  delegates  from 
seven  branch  organizations. 

A  board  of  trustees  was  elected  and  plans  formulated  for  the  advancement  of  the  work. 
It  was  at  this  session  that  we  most  painfully  felt  the  great  lo.ss  incurred.  For  fourteen 
years  had  we  helped  to  make  the  Association  what  it  was  at  the  time  of  the  division. 
$96,204.41  had  been  collected;  mission  work  had  been  opened  in  Portland  Oregon,  China, 
Germany,  and  Africa.  In  tho.se  missions  were  employed  seven  American  and  fourteen 
native  missionaries.  These  niissions  had  a  united  membership  of  936,  and  property  valued 
at  j26,soo.  The  li-'oinan's  Evani:^el -w&sihs  organ  of  the  Association.  This  accumulation 
of  funds  and  establishing  of  miHsions  was  effected  under  the  regulations  of  the  old  church, 
but  by  the  ecclesiastical  storm  which  rent  in  twain  our  church  home,  it  swept  from  us  that 
for  which  our  hands  and  brains  had  toiled  and  our  prayers  had  been  offered.  B\it  God's 
blessing  in  copious  showers  fell  upon  us,  and  whispers  of  "He  strong,  and  of  good  courage, 
and  l)e  not  dismayed:  I  will  help  thee — give  thee  aid,"  were  heard,  and  the  willing-hearted 
and  wise-hearted  of  our  women  wrought  with  their  hands,  their  intellects  and  their  wills, 
and  now  lay  before  you  the  approximate  result  of  their  efforts: 

OKfVANIZATIONS.' 

Branch  organizations  have  been  effected  in  twenty-five  conference  territories,  with  a 
meml)crship  of  1,450,  and  v,.So  children  have  been  enli.sted. 

KINANCES. 

Received  in  cash  during  quadrennium I3921  26 

On  siib.scrij)tion 370  00 

Disbursed 2551  32 

Cash  in  treasury 1369  94 

MISSION  KIEI.nS  HEI.l'EI). 

Help  has  been  contributed  to  different  home  and  frontier  fields,  and  some  to  foreign 


UNITED  BRETHREN  IN  CHRIST.  43 

work.  The  Woman's  Foreign  Missionary  Society,  of  Chambersburg,  reports  through  our 
Association  the  work  done  by  them  in  Africa,  and  direct  from  our  treasury  has  been  sent 
fifty  dollars  for  the  support  of  a  school  in  a  territory  adjoining  that  occupied  by  D.  K.  Wil- 
berforce,  where  no  Christian  instruction  is  being  given  and  the  call  is  earnest.  Portland 
and  Salem  Missions  in  Oregon,  California.  East  and  West  Nebraska,  Rlkhorn,  Neosho, 
Kansas  and  L,cnver  Wabash  have  been  helped,  as  opportunities  offered,  by  the  Woman's 
Board.  Of  the  re.sults  we  can  only  speak  in  part.  At  Salem  Mission,  in  Oregon,  advance- 
ment has  been  made.  Good  congregations,  an  interesting  Sunday-school,  and  arrange- 
ments to  build  a  church  are  the  outcome  of  a  discouraging  beginning  at  the  opening  of  the 
year.  Portland  Mission  bids  fair  to  be  a  success.  A  devoted  laborer,  well  sustained  to  give 
his  time  unreservedly  to  the  work,  is  thought  to  be  the  one  thing  needed  to  insure  success. 
The  work  in  Lower  Wabash  territory  is  hopeful.  Three  organizations  have  been  ef- 
fected, between  seventy-five  and  a  hundred  members  have  been  enrolled,  and  arrangements 
are  being  made  to  build  a  new  church  at  one  point.  How  much  strength  has  been  received 
by  the  church  at  other  points  the  future  alone  will  reveal.  The  little  that  we  may  seem  to 
have  accomplished,  as  compared  with  other  missionary  organizations,  may  appear  to  some 
insignificant,  but  when  we  remember  that  it  is  promised  that  "A  little  one  shall  become  a 
thousand,  and  a  small  one  a  strong  nation,"  we  take  courage,  press  forward,  and  leave  re- 
sults with  Him  who  is  able  to  multiply  the  barley  loaves  and  fishes  until  the  hunger  of  a 
great  multitude  is  satisfied. 

Bishop  Barnaby,  after  moving  that  the  Conference  heartily  ap- 
prove the  report  and  the  vi^ork  done  by  the  Woman's  Missionary 
Association,  said,  "I  -want  to  say  that  I,  like  Paul,  am  now  found  preach- 
ing the  faith  I  once  destroyed.  Now  I  most  earnestly  repent,  and  I  close 
my  remarks  with  an  earnest  invocation  for  God's  blessing  on  our  Wo- 
man's Missionary  Association. 

M.  Wright.  Our  sisters  have  done  grandly  and  the  field  is  open- 
ing for  them. 

C.  H.  KiRACOFE.  Qui-  sisters  have  made  an  increase  of  nearlj'  twen- 
ty hundred  per  cent,  in  the  last  four  years. 

W.  S.  Titus.  I  did  not  have  to  be  converted  as  Bro.  Barnaby,  but 
have  always  been  in  favor  of  giving  them  their  full  rights.  We  do  not 
know  what  our  women  can  do.  Give  them  a  chance  and  they  will  show 
what  they  can  do. 

H.  Floyd.  A  model  church  is  one  that  brings  into  work  all  its  for- 
ces. I  never  had  to  be  converted  to  the  idea  of  giving  women  room  to 
work,  and  I  think  we  should  give  the  sisters  all  they  can  do. 

J.  K.  Nelson.  I  was  deeply  impressed  and  delighted  when  our  wo- 
men took  this  work  into  trheir  hands.  I  have  found  it  a  great  help  in 
the  work.  It  makes  it  easier  to  collect  funds.  I  get  a  better  salary  and 
can  do  better  work.     Thank  the  Lord  for  the  W.  M.  A. 

J.  K.  Alw^ood.  I  do  not  remember  the  time  when  I  was  opposed  to 
women  doing  all  the  church  work  they  could. 

The  motion  prevailed. 

E.  C.  Wyatt  read  the  report  of  the  committee  on  Missions  and 
Church  Erection: 


44  GENERAL  CONFERENCE. 

MISSIONARY  REPORT. 

We  your  committee  on  Missions  and  Church  Krection  wonUl  submit  the  following  re- 
port: 

Rfsoli'ed,  I.  That  we  recommend  to  the  I'arent  Board  that  they  open  a  foreign  mis- 
sion as  soon  as  practicable. 

2.  That  we  set  apart  the  first  week  of  January  in  each  year  as  a  week  of  self-denial  in 
the  interest  of  foreign  missions. 

T,.  That  the  Children's  Day  collections  be  used  for  mi.ssions. 
.  4.  That  the  conferences  shall  be  divided  into  three  classes.  The  first  class,  consisting 
of  Auglaize,  North  Ohio,  and  White  River,  shall  pay  oue-half  of  the  funds  collected  for 
missions  general  to  the  Parent  Board.  The  second  class,  consisting  of  Central  Illinois, 
Michigan,  Pennsylvania,  Rock  River,  and  Sandusky  shall  pay  one-third.  The  third  class, 
consisting  of  Arkansas  Valley,  California,  Kast  Des  Moines,  Nebraska,  East  Ohio,  Erie, 
Indiana,  Iowa,  Kansas,  Missouri,  Neosho,  North  Michigan,  Ontario,  Oregon,  Scioto,  St. 
Joseph,  Upper  Wabash,  Walla  Walla,  West  Des  Moines,  West  Kansas,  Wisconsin,  and  all 
other  conferences  that  may  he  reorganized,  within  the  quadrennium  shallpay  one-fourth. 

5.  All  the  conferences  in  the  fir.st  and  second  classes  shall  be  self-supporting. 

6.  Any  of  the  conferences  in  the  third  cla.ss,  not  already  mission  conferences,  maj'  be- 
come such  on  application,  if  the  application  is  approved  by  the  Board  or  its  executive 
committee. 

7.  We  reconnnend  that  the  animal  conferences  make  the  usual  assessments  and  collec- 
tions for  the  Church  I'".rection  Fund.  C.  H.  Kiracofe. 

E.  C.  Wyatt. 
W.  S.  Titus. 
S.  S.  .Sims. 
J.  W.  Stewart. 
Wm.  Dillon. 
J.  Noel. 

B.  G.  Huhcr  moved  that  it  be  adopted  item  by  item.     Carried. 
Items  1,  2  and  3  were  read  and  adopted.     The  fourth  item  was  read. 

After  some  discussion  the  item  was  adopted. 

Items  5,  6,  and  7  were  adopted. 

The  committee  on  nominations  proposed  the  following  names  for 
Publishing-  Agent:    M.  F.  Keiter,  C.  L.  Wood,  S.  L.  Livingston. 

M.  Wright.  I  love  all  these  brethren,  but  I  am  thinking  of  the 
debt  on  the  publishing  house.  I  do  not  see  how,  if  we  elect  one  of  these 
brethren,  we  can  support  him.    I  mo^ve  the  nomination  of  C.  H.  Kiracofe. 

Bishop  Barnaby.  We  are  not  limited  to  these  names:  we  are  at 
liberty  to  vote  for  whom  we  please. 

Balloting  for  Publishing  Agent  was  as  follows: 

vote;  FOR  PUBLISHING  AGENT. 

C.  H.  Kiracofe 22 

M.  F.  Keiter 15 

W.  H.  Clay 10 

S.  L.  Livingston 5 

C.  L.  Wood 2 

I.  M.  Tharp 2 

B.  G.  Huber 1 

N.  D.  Wolfard i 


UNITED  BRETHREN  IN  CHRIST.  -45 

Whole  number,  58.  Necessary  to  choice,  30.  No  one  having-  re- 
ceived that  number,  a  second  ballot  was  taken,  with  the  following 
ersult: 

C.  H.  Kiracofe 35 

M.  F.  Keiter i6 

S.  L,.  Livingston 

C.  h.  Wood 

W.  H.  Clay 

I.  M.  Tharp 

W.  S.  Titus 

Total  number  of  votes  cast,  56.  C.  H.  Kiracofe,  having  received  a 
majority  of  all  the  votes  cast,  was  declared  elected. 

The  report  of  committee  on  Nominations  for  Missionary  Treasurer 
was  recommittal. 

Thirty  names  were  presented  from  wlx)m  to  elect  the  Board  of  Trus- 
tees for  Union  Biblical  Seminary. 

Pending  the  vote,  H.  Floyd  moved  to  amend  item  1,  page  49  of  Dis- 
cipline, by  adding,  ''Provided,  however,  that  the  General  Boards  of  the 
church  may  be  elected  by  a  plurality  "  vote.     Carried. 

W.  Dillon  moved  that  the  foregoing  amendment  go  into  effect  im- 
mediately.    Carried. 

The  conference  then  proceeded  to  ballot  for  members  of  the  several 
general  boards  of  the  church. 

A.  G.  .Johnson  and  L.  S.  Wilmoth  were  appointed  to  count  the  bal- 
lots for  Trustees  of  Union  Biblical  Seminary:  J.'E.  Ham  and  O.  G. 
Alwood  were  ai)pointed  to  collect  and  count  the  ballots  for  members  of 
the  Board  of  Missions. 

C.  H.  Kiracofe  moved  that  Bishop  Wright  be  president  of  the  Boai-d 
of  Missions,  and  the  other  three  bishops,  vice  presidents.     Adopted. 

J.  K.  Nelson  and  A.  R.  Laudy  were  appointed  to  collect  and  count 
the  ballots  for  members  of  the  General  Sabbath-School  Boai-d. 

C.  H.  Kiracofe  moved  that  W.  H.  Clay  be  elected  secretary  of  the 
Sabbath-School  Board.     Carried. 

The  vote  for  the  Board  of  Education  was  cast  and  placed  in  the 
hands  of  a  boards  of  tellers. 

Conference  adjourned,  with  benediction  by  Bishop  H.  T.  Barnaby. 

NINTH  DAY -MORNING  SKSSION. 
Saturday,  May  27,  1893. 

Devotional  exercises  were  conducted  by  W.  A.  Oler,  consisting  of 
prayer  and  testimony. 

The  regular  session  was  called  to  order  at  nine  o'clock.  Bishop  M. 
Wright  in  the  chair. 


46  GENERAL  CONFERENCE. 

The  roll  was  called:  minutes  of  yesterday's  session  were  read,  amend- 
ed and  approved. 

The  followinj^-  resolution  was  read  and  adoi)ted: 

Whereas,  A  call  has  beeu  issued  to  anti-secret  churches  to  assemble  in  a  congress  iu 
Chicago,  iu  September,  1S93;  and, 

Whereas,  The  church  of  the  United  Hrethren  in  Christ  has  always  stood  iu  the  front 
rank  against  organized  secret  societies  and  combinations;  therefore, 

Rcsolv/:d,  That  this  General  Conference  of  the  church  of  the  United  Brethren  in 
Christ,  assembled  in  regular  session  in  the  town  of  Hudson,  Indiana,  elect  two  delegates  to 
represent  the  church  of  the  United  Brethren  in  Christ  in  said  congress.  P.  Beck. 

J.  Riley. 

Bishop  H.  Floyd  and  Bishop  H.  J.  Becker  were  elected  to  repi-esent 
our  church  at  that  conj^ress. 

C.  H.  Kiracofe  moved  that  the  supervision  of  our  church  litijiation 
he  left  in  the  hands  of  Bishop  M.  Wright  for  the  next  quadrennium. 

Bishop  Barnaby.  I  wish  to  inquire  whether  this  arrangement 
places  the  whole  responsibility,  in  all  the  states,  upon  Bishop  Wright? 

C.  H.  Kiracofe.  He  would  have  the  same  sort  of  supervision  that 
he  has  had  during  the  last  four  years. 

J.  K.  Alwood.  I  move  that  the  motion  be  so  amended  that  Bishops 
Floyd  and  Barnaby  be  associated  with  Bishop  Wright  in  this  matter. 

J.  K.  Nelson.     I  support  the  motion. 

C.  H.  KlRA(X)FE.  I  think  it  would  not  l)e  best  that  this  arrange- 
ment should  be  made.  The  responsibility  will  necessarily  rest  upon  one 
man. 

Amendment  lost. 

The  oi'iginal  motion  carried. 

A  paper  was  presented  by  Z.  McNew  in  reference  to  Hartsville 
('ollege,  which,  after  discussion,  was  amended  and  adopted  as  follows: 

Whereas,  There  is  a  report  in  circulation  to  the  effect  that  Hartsville  College  is  to  be 
removed  in  the  near  future;  and. 

Whereas,  This  report  is  injurious  to  the  present  aud  future  prosperity  of  this  institu- 
tion of  learning;  therefore, 

A'i'solved,  That  this  General  Conference  has  no  authority  to  remove  Hartsville  College 
from  Hartsville,  Indiana;  but  that  it  is  in  full  sympathy  with  all  of  the  interests  of  the  col- 
lege, and  bids  it  God  speed.  Z.  McNew. 

W.  A.  Olkr. 
John  Rilkv. 
J.  M.  Johnson. 

C.  Bender  moved  that  the  place  of  holding  the  next  General  Confer- 
ence be  left  to  the  diu-ision  of  the  Board  of  Bishops.     Carried. 

C.  H.  Kiracofe  presented  the  following  resolution  which  wasadoi)ted: 
We  the  General  Conference  of  the  churcli  of  the  United  Brethren  iu  Christ,  assembled 
at  Iludsou,  Indiana,  May  27,  1893,  hereby  declare,  that  the  body  which  held  its  meetinjj;s 
iu  I'ark  Opera  House  in  the  city  of  York,  Pa.,  after  the  divi.sion  iu  the  General  Conference 
of  i«89,  was  the  true  General  Conference  of  the  church  of  the  United  Brethren  iu  Christ, 
aud  its  proceedings  legal  and  binding  on  the  church. 


UNITED  BRETHREN  IN  CHRIST.  47 

2.  That  body  which  held  its  meetiugs  iu  York  Opera  House  in  the  city  of  York,  Pa., 
after  tlie  division,  was  a  revolutionary  body,  and  its  proceediugs  and  euactmentss  illegal 
and  iu  no  sense  binding  upon  the  true  and  original  church  of  the  United  Brethren  in 
Christ.  C.  H.  Kir.a.cofe. 

\Vm.  Miller. 

Bishop  Wright  inquired  what  was  the  pleasure  of  the  house  in  re- 
gard to  the  time  of  holding  the  next  General  Conference. 

Barnaby  moved  that  the  next  General  Conference  begin  on  the 
fourth  Thursday  of  May,  1897,  at  2:00  o'clock. 

C.  B.  8HERK.  I  move  to  amend  by  saying  the  third  Thursday  in 
May. 

H.  T.  Barnaby.  I  think  it  would  suit  the  majority  better  to  have 
it  later. 

The  amendment  was  lost. 

The  original  motion  carried. 

J.  T.  Allaman.  I  move  that  R.  G.  Huber  be  one  of  the  committee 
on  Editing  Discipline. 

Bishop  Dillon.  Bro.  Huber  being  at  some  distance  I  move  to 
amend  by  appointing  C.  H.  Kiracofe  and  Milton  Wright. 

The  amendment  carried. 

The  motion  as  amended  was  adopted. 

J.  K.  Alwood.  I  move  that  the  new  Discipline  as  revised  go  into 
effect  as  soon  as  possible. 

Bishop  Dillon.     I  think  a  definite  time  should  be  stated. 

H.  T.  Barnaby.  Some  of  our  conferences  will  be  held  the  fiist  of 
August,  and  we  should  have  our  new  Discipline  there.  I  move  to  amend 
by  saying  the  first  of  August. 

The  motion  as  amended  carried. 

C.  H.  Kiracofe.  I  wish  to  call  attention  to  the  matter  of  publish- 
ing the  Discipline.  The  co-ordination  and  T.'lassification  of  the  general 
topics  are  very  defective,  and  should  be  amended. 

S.  W.  Kern.  I  move  to  authorize  the  editing  committee  to  arrange 
as  they  deem  best.         Carried. 

Ballots  were  cast  for  the  General  Board  of  Trustees  for  the  church, 
and  submitted  to  a  board  of  tellers. 

The  conference  took  up  the  question  of  electing  a  Missionary  Treasur- 
er. The  question  called  out  some  remarks  touching  the  work  required, 
etc.  Pending  the  election  of  Missionary  Treasurer,  C.  H.  Kiracofe  of- 
fered his  resignation  of  the  office  of  Publishing  Agent,  stating  that  he 
deemed  this  the  best  for  the  accomplishment  of  the  best  i*esults,  as  the 
bui'dens  necessarily  crowding  upon  him  would  make  it  unwise  for  him  to 
undertake  the  duties  of  the  Publishing  Agent. 

Considerables  discussion  was  occasioned  by  this  resignation. 

Chair.     Do  ypu  make  your  resignation  absolute V 

C.  H.  Kiracofe.     I  do  not  make  it  absolute.     I   would  not  dare  to 


48  GENERAL  CONFERENCE. 

do  so,  but  I  most  sincerely  request  to  be  relieved  from  the  position,  but 
in  the  spirit  of  the  Master  will  abide  the  decision  of  the  Conference. 

S.  Austin.     I  move  that  we  request  Bro.  Kiracofe  not  to  resign. 

Pending  action  on  this  motion,  conference  adjourned.  Benediction 
by  Bishop  H.  Floyd. 

AFTERNOON  SESSION. 

The  bishops  being  absent,  Bishop-elect,  W.  Dillon  called  the  house  to 
order,  and  E.  J.  Moody  led  in  prayer. 

At  2:15  Bishop  M.  Wright  took  the  chair,  and  the  unfinished  busi- 
ness before  the  house,  which  was  the  motion  to  request  C.  H.  Kiracofe 
to  withdraw  his  resignation,  was  taken  up,  and  the  motion  was  lost. 

C.  Bender.  I  move  that  the  resignation  be  accepted.  The  motion 
prevailed. 

The  conference  proceeded  to  the  election  of  Publishing  Agent. 

Fifty-six  votes  were  cast,  of  which  M.  F.  Keiter  received  31;  S.  L. 
Livingston,  10;  C.  H.  Kiracofe,  5;  C.  L.  Wood.  4:  W.  H.  Clay.  3;  B.  G. 
Huber,  2;  A.  Worman,  1. 

M.  F.  'Keiter,  having  received  a  majority  of  all  the  votes  cast,  was 
declared  elected. 

Next  in  order  was  the  balloting  for  Missionai'y  Ti-easurei-  with  the 
following  result: 

M.  F.  Keiter 35 

H.  J.  Becker 12 

M.  Wright * 4 

C.  H.  Kiracofe 3 

S.  L,.  Livingston / 2 

B.  G.  Huber • i 

Whole  number  of  votes  cast.  "1.  M.  F.  Keiter  having  received  a 
majority  of  all  the  votes  cast  was  duly  elected. 

The  committee  on  incorporation  made  i-epoi-t  which  was  amended 
and  adopted  as  follows. 

1.  We  recommend  the  incorporation  of  the  Church  under  the-  laws  of . 

2.  That  the  General  Board  of  Trustees  be  constituted  the  Board  for  the  Incorporation 
of  the  Church. 

A.  B.  Powell.  Chairman. 
A.  W.  Geeslin,  Secretary. 

W.  H.  Clay.  I  move  that  the  (General  Board  of  Trustees  be  author- 
ized to  fill  all  vacancies  which  may  occur  within  the  quadrennium. 

Adopted. 

Committee  No.  3,  on  Revision,  l)age  o(i  ol'  J)i;scipline  roj)orted  on 
matter  recommitted  to  them.     Report  a.do])ted. 

Wm.  Milleu.     I  move  to  strike  out  all  ol'  page  lIST  in  Discipline. 

Motion  adopted. 

H.  Floyd.     As  we  have  stricken  out  the  formuhl,   I  move  that  we 


UNITED  BRETHREN  IN  CHRIST.  49_ 

strike  out  the  instructions  included  in  parenthesis  on  page  73,  and  insert 
"in  writing." 

Motion  carried. 

The  committee  on  the  State  of  the  Church  and  Country  reported  and 
the  report  was  amended  and  adopted  as  follows: 

STATE  OF  THE  CHURCH  AND  COUNTRY. 

we  your  committee  on  State  of  the  Church  and  Countrj'  beg  leave  to  submit  the  fol- 
lowing: 

STATE  OF  THE  COUNTRY. 

That  we,  as  a  great  nation,  are  at  peace  with  all  other  nations  is  a  matter  of  rejoicing 
and  thanksgiving.  Pestilence  and  famine  have  not  visited  our  shores,  but  health  and 
plent}'  have  been  lavished  upon  us,  for  which  we  have  rea.son  to  be  thankful  to  Almighty 
God.  We  will  pray  that  these  blessings  be  perpetuated  and  the  Divine  approval  continue 
to  rest  upon  us.     We  beliave  that  all  national  disputes  should  be  settled  by  arbitration. 

RELIGIOUS  ASPECT  OF  THE  COUNTRY. 

While  there  are  many  things  in  the  Christian  world  that  are  to  be  deplored  by  the  ad- 
vocates of  truth  and  righteousness;  such,  for  instance,  as  the  persistent  eiforts  put  forth  by 
the  enemies  of  truth,  who  are  engaged  in  publishing  and  distributing  infidel  and  other 
pernicious  literature,  thereby  poisoning  the  minds  of  so  many  of  the  youth  of  our  laud;  al- 
,so  the  efforts  of  those  who  are  by  every  conceivable  scheme  endeavoring  to  counteract  the 
onward  march  in  the  temperance  cause;  and  of  the  very  many  who  are  suffering  their 
voice,  their  influence  and  their  means  to  be  used  in  favor  of  idolatry,  especially  as  prac- 
ticed in  Christless  secret  societies. 

Yet  we  see  very  many  things  which  are  encouraging.  The  facilities  by  which  to  reach 
the  masses  with  good  and  wholesome  religious  iustniction  are  increasing,  and  manj'  are 
contributing  their  time  and  money  in  this  direction,  more  being  done  now,  perhaps,  than 
at  any  other  time  in  the  history  of  the  world,  on  this  line.  It  is  also  true  that  even  popu- 
lar sentiment  is  growing  in  favor  of  putting  down  the  liquor  traffic  in  most  places,  and 
certainly  the  moral  energies  of  the  world  are  being  aroused,  as  evidenced  by  the  fact  that 
the  best  talents  in  the  world  are  employed  in  this  reform.  Also  in  regard  to  the  evils  of 
secrecy  it  is  evident  from  the  results  of  the  recent  strikes,  etc.  that  the  principle  carries  in 
it  the  elements  that  will  eventually  prove  its  own  destruction,  at  least  in  the  estimation 
of  the  conscientiou.sly  pure. 

All  this,  together  with  the  fact  that  the  orthodox  Christian  world  are  more  united  in 
heart  and  effort  to-daj'  than  ever  before,  and  the  nations  of  the  world  more  universally 
disposed  to  beat  their  swords  into  plow-shares,  and  their  spears  into  pruning  hooks,  thus 
admitting  the  missionary  into  every  known  laud  or  country. 

We  rejoice  in  the  fact  that  the  moral  principles  in  respect  to  vital  Godliness  and  separ- 
ation from  the  world  advocated  by  us  as  a  church  are  being  sustained,  and  we  have  reason 
to  believe  that  by  our  recent  conflict  ovir  sphere  of  operations  will  be  greatly  enlarged  by 
being  more  prominently  brought  before  the  world. 

STATE  OF  THE  CHURCH. 

The  Christian  Church  is  the  pillar  and  ground  of  truth;  the  light  of  the  world  and  the 
salt  of  the  earth.  We  rejoice  to  know  that  our  church  from  its  origin  has  stood  in  the  front 
ranks  of  the  reform  forces  of  our  covmtry.  Under  the  blessings  of  God  it  took  deep  root 
and  filled  the  land.  But  in  an  evil  hour  the  wild  beast  of  the  field  wasted  it.  The  defec- 
tion of  those  who  went  out  from  us,  under  the  new  constitution,  hindered  us  much.  We 
have,  to  a  large  extent,  been  locked  out  of  our  church  houses.  As  a  result  of  this,  many  of 
our  people  are  .scattered  abroad,  and  without  church  privileges  of  their  own.  More  earnest 
and  persevering  efforts  should  be  made  to  supply  them  with  pastors  and  church  privileges. 
We  need  more  and  more  of  the  missionary  spirit,  of  the  spirit  of  Christ,  to  lead  us  out  into 


50  GENERAL  CONFERENCE, 

these  teedy  fields.  The  harvest  is  plenteous  and  the  ingathering  will  be  glorious.  We 
have  the  money,  if  we  have  the  will,  and  we  believe  God  will  give  the  men.  "Pray  ye, 
therefore,  the  Lord  of  the  harvest,  that  he  will  send  forth  laborers  into  his  harvest." 

Our  schools  and  missions  have  been  perverted  from  the  purposes  for  which  they  were 
founded.  Our  publishing  house  also  has  been,  and  is  being,  per\'erted  to  the  overthrow  of 
the  Church  in  whose  intere.st  it  was  established.  Yet  God  has  wonderfully  blessed  us. 
That  so  many  of  our  people  were  deceived  and  led  astray,  is  a  source  of  sadness  to  our 
hearts.  With  feelings  of  kindness  for  the  erring,  and  a  firm  determination  to  maintain 
the  right,  we  will  press  forward.  Couformitj-  to  the  world  has  ever  been  a  source  of  weak- 
ness and  disaster  to  the  church.  If  the  afflictions,  persecutions,  and  injuries,  which  we 
have  suffered  at  the  hands  of  the  enemies  of  our  beloved  Zion,  purify  us,  even  as  by  fire, 
we  will  thank  God.  If  in  the  providence  of  God  our  property  is  restored,  we  will  be  thank- 
ful; if  not  restored,  we  will  also  be  thankful,  and  build  again  the  waste  places,  believing 
that  the  latter  house  will  have  more  glory  than  the  former.  The  prosperity  of  the  church 
depends  upon  her  fidelity  to  God  and  his  truth.  A  tree  planted  by  those  waters  t>rings 
forth  his  fruit  in  his  season.  What  the  Lord  requires  of  the  individual  he  requires  of  the 
churcli;  "To  do  justice,  and  to  love  mercy,  and  to  walk  humbly  with  thy  God."  We  have 
reason  for  thanksgiving  to  the  Father  of  all  mercies  for  the  general  harmony  and  prosper- 
ity which  has  obtained  among  us  during  the  past  quadrennium,  and  for  the  manifesta- 
tions of  his  presence  with  us  now.  The  pillar  of  cloud  and  of  fire  is  leading,  and  we  may 
safely  follow.  God  has  a  great  work  for  this  church  to  accomplish;  and  only  by  separation 
from  the  world  and  consecration  to  the  blessed  Christ,  can  we  fulfill  the  requirement.  The 
silver  lining  is  in  the  clouds.  At  no  time  in  our  history  has  the  voice  of  God  more  clearly 
said:  "Enlarge  the  place  of  thy  tent,  and  let  them  stretch  forth  the  curtains  of  thine  habi- 
tations. 

With  the  Holy  Spirit  to  lead  us,  and  the  love  of  Christ  to  fill  our  hearts,  and  the  God 
of  I-nijah  to  fight  our  battles,  we  may  with  confidence  go  forward. 

TEMPERANCE. 

Whereas,  Our  nation  is  cursed  with  the  rum  traffic,  and  thousands  of  our  citizens 
are  corrupted  by  its  influence;  and. 

Whereas,  The  use  of  rum  dethrones  reason,  destroys  the 'peace  of  home,  deprives 
women  and  children  of  the  rights  and  the  protection  guaranteed  to  them  in  the  Constitu- 
tion of  the  Republic;  and. 

Whereas,  The  enormity  of  the  evil  is  further  apparent,  in  that  it  stimulates  the  arm 
of  the  assassin,  corrupts  politicians,  clogs  the  wheels  of  commerce,  strikes  a  death-blow  at 
the  foundation  of  government,  seeks  to  destroy  the  purity  of  the  church,  fills  our  alms- 
houses with  paupers,  our  prisons  with  criminals,  destroys  the  souls  of  men,  and  is,  there- 
fore, in  open  rebellion  against  God  and  heaven;  therefore, 

A'i'so/7'ed,  I.  That  we,  as  members  of  this  conference,  enter  our  solemn  protest  against 
the  government  in  any  way  legalizing  or  fostering  this  mother  of  crimes,  believing  that  to 
license  it,  whether  the  licen.se  be  high  or  low,  means  its  promulgation,  and  is  a  sin  against 
our  country  and  in  the  sight  of  God. 

2.  That  we,  as  ministers  of  Jesus  Christ,  will  do  all  in  our  power  to  secure  the  legal 
prohibition  of  the  traffic,  and  that  we  will  instruct  our  people  to  labor  earnestly  to  exter- 
minate this  curse  from  the  land. 

3.  That  we,  as  Christian  ministers,  will  not  knowingly  vote  with  any  political  party, 
or  for  any  man  to  fill  any  office  of  trust,  until  .said  party  or  said  man  shall  declare  in  favor  of 
the  prohibition  of  the  liquor  traffic;  and  we  will  advise  our  people  not  to  give  their  fran- 
chises to  any  political  party  that  is  not  openly  and  avowedly  opposed  to  the  saloon  in  every 
form,  it  being  the  sense  of  this  body  that  no  political  party  has  the  right  to  expect  the 
support  of  any  Christian,  so  long  as  that  party  is,  in  anyway,  in  favor  of  the  saloon;  and 
we  assert  our  belief,  that  in  this  nineteenth  century,  nothing  short  of  the  absolute  prohibi- 
tion of  the  li(iiior  traffic  will  .satisfy  the  better  class  of  true  American  citizens,  nor  meet 
our  obligations  to  God. 


UNITED  BRETHREN  IN  CHRIST.  51 

SABBATH. 

We  as  Christians  favor  the  observance  of  the  first  day  of  the  week  as  the  Christian  Sab- 
bath, and  hold  that  it  should  be  obser^'ed  sacredly  as  a  day  of  rest,  and  worship,  and  we 
maintain  that  it  should  not  be  desecrated  in  any  way  by  a  Christian  nation. 

A  supplementary  report  on  Publishing  Interests  was  read  by  C.  L. 
Wood  as  follows: 

SUPPLEMENTARY  REPORT  ON  PUBLISHING  INTERESTS. 

Resohied,  i.  That  the  Publishing  Board  be  authorized,  if  they  find  it  practicable,  to 
procure  for  the  church  the  unpublished  lectures  of  the  late  Dr.  L.  Davis,  and  publish  it 
iu  neat  and  substantial  form. 

2.  That  the  same  board  be  instructed,  should  thej'  find  it  practicable  so  to  do,  to  have 
the  catechetical  work  of  Bishop  Edwards,  now  deceased,  revised  and  published,  making  it 
suited  to  the  needs  of  the  youth  of  the  church.  W.  S.  TiTUS. 

J.  K.  Nelson. 
I.  M.  Tharp. 
N.  R.  Luce. 
D.  B.  Sherk. 
J.  W.  Stewart. 
C.  L.  Wood. 
A  motion  to  adopt  was  made. 

H.  J.  Becker.  I  do  not  know  how  much  it  would  cost  us  to  publish 
Dr.  Davis' lectures.  I  move  to  amend  so  as  to  say  "not  less  than  one 
thousand"'  »;opies. 

The  amendment  prevailed  and  the  report  as  amended  was  adopted. 
The  completed  report  of  the  committee  on  Correspondence  was  read 
by  N.  R.  Luce  and  was  adopted  as  follows. 

REPORT  OF  COMMITTEE  ON  CORRECPONDENCE. 

We  your  committee  on  Correspondence,  having  under  our  consideration  communica- 
tions from  M.  V.  Crom,  the  delegate  elect  from  Rock  River  conference,  J.  Appleby,  of  Wis- 
consin conference,  James  Wilkison,  of  Neosho  conference,  and  D.  W.  Baker,  oi  East  Des 
Moines  conference,  hereby  acknowledge  the  receipt  of  tljeir  communications  and  recom- 
mend that  the  secretary  answer  the  letter  «f  Brother  M.  V.  Crom,  and  extend  to  him  our 
Christian  sympathy  in  his  affliction,  and  regret  his  inability  to  be  with  us. 

We  recommend  that  our  Christian  greetings  to  the  Presbj'terian  General  Assembly, 
now  in  session  in  Washington,  D.  C,  be  forwarded  to  that  body,  signed  by  our  senior  bish- 
op and  the  secretary  of  the  Conference. 

supplementary  report. 

Your  committee  on  Correspondence  would  further  recommend  that  the  appointment  of 
fraternal  delegates  from  this  General  Conference  to  our  sister  churches  be  left  to  the  Board 
of  Bishops,  and  also  the  churches  to  which  such  delegates  may  be  sent.  In  behalf  of  the 
committee,  N.  R.  Luce.  Secrt'taiy. 

The  following  Supplementary  report  of  committee  on  Superinteml- 
ency  was  i-ead  by  J.  K.  Alwood: 

We  your  committee  on  Superintendency,  to  whom  was  referred  a  paper  requesting 
that  the  Board  of  Bishops  be  constituted  a  committee  to  frame  a  constitution  for  a 
Christian  Endeavor  Society,  recommend  that  this  matter  be  left  to  the  discretion  of  tne 
bishops.     Respectfully  submitted.  Wm.  Miller. 

A.  W.  Geeslin. 

J.  K.  Alwood. 


52  GENERAL  CONFERENCE. 

On  motion  of  C.  H.  Kiracofe  it  was  adopted. 

W.  S.  Titus.  I  move  that  two  be  added  to  the  committee  on  super- 
intendency,  to  iix  the  bishop's  salaries. 

Motion  was  adopted. 

The  chair  appointed  Z.  McNew  and  W.  S.  Titus. 

C.  H.  Kiracofe.  Do  we  understand  that  the  Coast  district  is  not 
represented  on  this  committee  V 

Chair.     We  are  so  informed. 

C.  H.  Kiracofe  moved  that  the  name  of  P.  Beck  be  added.    Adopted. 

C.  H  Kiracofe  moved  that  when  we  adjourn  we  adjourn  to  meet  after 
the  services  this  evening.     Carried. 

On  motion  of  H.  T.  Barnaby  an  amendment  was  made  to  Discipline, 
page  63. 

The  committee  on  Superintendency  reported,  i-ecommending  that 
the  salaries  of  the  bishops  be  fixed  at  $1,000. 

A  motion  was  made  to  adopt. 

A  motion  was  made  to  amend  by  saying  $1,200. 

H.  J.  Beckhr.  I  think  $1,000  is  inadequate,  unless  we  arrange  to 
pay  their  traveling  expenses  in  addition. 

S.  Austin.  I  know  our  bishops  will  not  get  enough  to  make  them 
rich  or  proud  at  $1  000,  but  I  think  we  ought  all  to  suffer  together. 

H.  T.  Barnaby.  I  wish  you  could  have  had  this  discussion  in  the 
absence  of  the  bishops.  Speaking  only  for  myself  I  will  say  that  I  would 
much  rather  you  would  leave  it  at  $1,000  for  this  reason,  that  all  will 
feel  better  if  it  is  payed,  and  it  will  not  be  should  it  be  fixed  at  $1,200. 

W.  S.  Titus.  *!  think  it  is  not  advisable  to  have  the  salary  so  high 
that  it  will  create  such  desir-e  to  be  a  bishop.  I  am  not  in  favor  of  rais- 
ing the  salary. 

W.  Miller.  I  believe  I  think  just  .as  much  of  our  bishops  as  any 
man  in  in  this  conference,  and  all  things  considered.  I  think  this  is  as  it 
should  be.     I  favor  that  we  stand  on  a  level  platform. 

H.  Floyd.  I  would  feel  just  as  well  satisfied  if  you  would  leave  it 
as  it  is,  but  would  suggest  that  if  preachers  would  do  their  duty  on  their 
fields  of  labor  they  would  not  have  so  hard  a  time  at  ccmference  to  raise 
it. 

C.L.Wood.  I  know  it  is  not  what  it  ought  to  be,  but  it  is  better 
than  to  make  it  higher  and  not  pay  it.  I  am  in  favor  of  making  it  $1,000 
and  traveling  expenses. 

The  report  of  the  committee  w:\s  adopted. 

M.  Wright.  Will  you  allow  me  a  word  ?  When  your  bishops  go 
to  visit  their  several  conferences,  except  to  hold  regular  sessions,  their 
expenses  should  be  paid. 

Ballots  were  cast  for  General  Man;igei-  of  Union  Bi])lical  Seminai-y. 
Z.  McNew  received  27  votes  and  was  declared  elected. 


UNITED  BRETHREN  IN  CHRIST.  53 

Conference  adjourned.  Prayer  by  S.  B.  McGrew.  Benediction  by 
Bishop  Dillon. 

EVENING  SESSION. 

After  sermon  by  Bishop  Wright  a  short  session  of  Conference  was 
held. 

H.  J.  Becker  read  the  following-  resolutions,  which  were  adopted  by 
a  rising  vote  of  members  of  Conference  and  visitors: 

RESOLUTIONS. 
Resolvrd,  i.  That  we  the  members  of  this  General  Cotiference  offer  the  citizens  of 
Hudson  and  the  surrounding  community  our  sincere  and  hearty  thanks  for  the  kind  and 
hospitable  entertainment  they  have  given  us.  We  will  pray  that  the  Divine  guidance  may 
always  be  over  them  in  all  their  affairs  in  life,  and  that  they  may  be  prospered  in  everj- 
laudable  enterprise  in  which  they  engage. 

2.  That  the  splendid  business  dispatch  of  the  entertainment  committee,  consisting  of 
Rev.  J.  E.  Bodine,  Rev.  D.  Clark,  Rev.  A.  B.  Lilly  and  Geo.  Oberlin,  deserve  special  men- 
tion and  our  sincerest  gratitude. 

3.  That  we  thank  the  several  railroad  companies  for  their  favors  to  delegates  of  this 
General  Conference. 

4.  That  we  appreciate  the  courtesies  of  the  press  of  our  country  and  of  Ontario,  for 
their  extensive  publications  of  the  proceedings  of  this  conference,  and  express  to  them  our 
sincere  gratitude. 

5.  That  Rev.  A.  H.  Tus.sing,  the  genial  and  obliging  postmaster  of  the  Conference,  has 
won  our  esteem,  and  is  entitled  to  our  most  heartj'  thanks  for  his  faithful  attention  to  our 
necessities. 

6.  That  we  here  express  our  snpremest  love  and  sympathy  one  for  another;  and  that 
we  will  seek  to  labor  as  co-workers  together  with  Christ,  and  in  honor  to  prefer  others  to 
ourselves;  and  that  we  will  ever  seek  to  aid  those  whom  we  have  chosen  to  fill  the  several 
general  offices  of  the  conference,  so  that  every  interest  of  the  church  may  be  made  to  con- 
tribute to  the  greatest  good  of  our  people  and  to  the  consumate  glory  of  God. 

7.  That  we  tender  to  our  presiding  bishops  our  unfeigned  thanks  for  the  impartial 
manner  in  which  they  have  presided  over  our  deliberations.  H.  J.  Becker. 

I.  M.  Tharp. 

H.  J.  Becker  moved  that  C.H.  Kiracofe,  Mditor,  and  M.  F.  Keiter, 
Publishing-  Agent,  be  a  committee  to  see  to  publishing  the  minutes  in 
pamphlet  form.     Carried. 

J.  Kenoyer  moved  that  the  Publishing  Board  be  requested  to  pub- 
lish a  cheap  edition  of  the  revised  Discipline.     Motion  adopted. 

The  minutes  of  the  day's  session  were  read  corrected  and  approved. 

D.  B.  Sherk  moved  to  adjourn. 

Remarks  were  mada  by  Bishop  Wright,  Bishop  Dillon,  Bishop  Floyd, 
Bishop  Barnaby,  H.  J.  Becker,  C.  H.  Kiracofe  and  M.  F.  Keiter,  af- 
ter which  the  21st  session  of  the  General  Conference  of  the  United 
Brethren  in  Chsist  adjourned  sh\e,  die. 


54  GENERAL  CONFERENCE. 

EVENING  AND  SUNDAY  SERVICES. 

On  the  first  Thursday  evening-  of  the  conference,  Father  Riley,  of 
Indiana,  preached  quite  an  acceptable  sermon  to  a  large  and  appreciat- 
ive audience. 

Friday  evening  M.  F.  Keiter.  of  Chambersbui^g.  Pensylvania,  occu- 
pied the  pulpit.  , 

E.  C.  Wyatt,  of  Oregon,  preached  to  the  people  in  the  U.  B.  Church 
Saturday  evening,  and  C.  L.  Wood,  of  Michigan,  to  the  Methodist  con- 
gregation. 

Sabbath  morning  quite  early  the  people  commenced  congregating 
from  the  various  sections  of  the  sun-ounding  country,  and  by  nine  o'clock 
the  crowds  were  immense.  Bishop  Wright  preached  to  an  over- 
flowing audience  at  the  United  Brethren  Church  a  sermon  which 
was  masterly,  profound  in  thought,  and  delivered  with  unction  and  pow- 
er. The  experience  meeting  preceeding  the  preaching  service  was  in- 
deed a  precious  season  of  grace. 

Bishops  Barnaby,  Floyd  and  Becker  preached  Sunday  morning  in  the 
Methodist,  Reformed  and  Lake  Valley  Churches,   respectively.     Their 
.  sermons  were  spoken  of  as  able  and  interesting  in  a  high  degree. 

Sunday  evening  N.  R.  Luce,  of  Union  City,  Pennsylvania,  preached 
to  a  large  and  appreciative  audience  in  the  U.  B.  Church. 

Monday  evening  the  U.  B.  pulpit  was  occupied  by  Bishop  Barnaby, 
to  the  edificatian  and  delight  of  his  hearers. 

Bishop  Floyd  on  Tuesday  evening,  in  the  U.  B.  Chui-ch,  delivered  a 
sermon  of  much  spiritual  power,  which  was  listened  to  with  profoxmd 
interest  by  a  large  audience. 

Wednesday  evening  Bishop  Becker  preached  to  a  crowded  house  a 
sermon  of  much  eloquence  and  power. 

Thursday  evening  memorial  service  was  held  for  the  late  Dr.  Lewis 
Davis.  The  meeting  was  presided  over  by  Bishop  Barnaby.  Addresses 
were  delivered  by  Bishops  Dillon  and  Wright,  and  Dr.  C.  H.  Kiracofe. 

Bishop  Dillon  preached  a  sermon  Friday  evening  on  the  subject  of 
the  Holy  Ghost,  which  was  practical  and  much  appreciated  by  the  au- 
dience. 

Saturday  evening  Bishop  Wright  presented  Jesus  to  the  people  in  a 
manner  most  earnest,  whi/jh,  indeed,  was  such  as  to  enlist  the  dee])est 
sympathies  of  his  hearers,  and  produced  profound  convictions  of  the 
superiority  of  .Tesus  over  all  other  teachers. 

Sabbath  morning  Bishop  Becker  preached  a  sermon  in  the  U.  B. 
Church  which  will  not  soon  be  forgotten,  owing  to  the  deep  impression 
made  on  the  minds  of  his  hearei-s. 

B.  G.  Huber,  of  Chambersburg,  Pennsylvania,  jireac^hed  in  the 
Methodist  Church  Sabbath  morning,  and  Z.  McNew,  of  Dublin,  Indiana, 


UNITED  BRETHREN  IN  CHRIST.  55 

in  the  same  church  in  the  evening. 

P.  Beck,  of  California,  occupied  the  pulpit  in  the  U.  B.  Church  Sab- 
bath evening. 

Thus  closed  a  most  successful  and  harmonious  quadrennial  gather- 
ing", and  all  go  out  to  the  toils  and  conflicts  of  the  field.  May  the  Lord 
l)less  the  labors  of, each  one,  crowning  with  glorious  success  the  efforts 
made,  and  may  all  come  rejoicing,  bringing  in  the  sheaves. 

GUNERAI,  BOARDS. 

TRUSTEES    OF    UNION    BIBLICAL   SEMINARY. 

J.  Kxcell,  J.  French,  H.  Floyd,  J.  M.  Johnson,  C.  H.  Kiracofe,  R.  G.  Montgomery,  S.  L. 
Livingston,  B.  W.  Mason,  Z.  McNew,  W.  Miller,  S.  A.  Stemen,  C.  Shaueley,  D.  B.  Sherk, 
C.  J.  Schenck,  M.  Wright. 

BOARD   OF    MISSIONS. 

M.  Wright,  President,  H.  T.  Barnaby,  H.  Floyd,  and  W.  Dillon,  Vice  Presidents,  J.  K. 
Alwood,  I.  M.  Tharp,  Wm.  Miller,  W.  H.  Mosier,  Robert  Montgomery,.  C  H.  Kiracofe,  D 
B.  Sherk. 

GENERAL    SABB.ATH-SCHOOL   BOARD. 

W.  H.  Clay,  Secretary,  I.  M.  Tharp,  H.  Floyd,  D.  O.  Tussiug,  A.  G.  Johnson. 

BOARD  OF  EDUCATION. 

N.  R.  Lnce,  M.  F.  Keiter,  W.  S.  Titus,  C.  h.  Wood,  W.  H.  Clay,  C.  H.  Kiracofe,  N.  D. 
Wolfard,  A.  W.  Geeslin,  C.  Bender,  Mrs.  Keezel,  S.  N.  McBride. 

GENERAL   TRUSTEES    OF    THE  CHURCH    OF   THE   UNITED    BRETHREN    IN    CHRIST. 

M.  Wright,  H.  Floyd,  W.  Miller,  C.  H.  Kiracofe,  D.  B.  Sherk,  H.  T.  Barnaby,  Robert 
Montgomery. 

TRUSTEES   OF    PUBLISHING    HOUSE. 

M.  Wright,  George  Horine,  H.  J.  Becker,  H.  Floyd,  Z.  McNew,  C.  W.  Backus,  Wni. 
Miller. 


1   PAMPHLET  BINDER 


.Vcnufoctured  by 

GAYLORD  BROS.  Inc. 

Syracuse,  N.Y. 

Stockton,  Calif. 

'■■• ■ '  u  amaBHMMHM 


BX9878.3  .A3  .1893 

Proceedings  of  the  twenty-first  general 

Princeton  Theological  Seminary-Speer  Library 


1    1012  00044  6643      t 


